An endoscopy offers an opportunity to collect tissue samples (biopsy) to test for diseases and conditions that may be causing anemia, bleeding, inflammation or diarrhea. It can also detect some cancers of the upper digestive system.
Upper endoscopy can be used along with x-rays to look at (and sometimes treat problems in) the pancreas and bile ducts. This type of procedure is known as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). For this test, a doctor passes an endoscope down into the first part of the small intestine.
The main symptom of pancreatitis is pain felt in the upper left side or middle of the abdomen. The pain: May be worse within minutes after eating or drinking at first, more commonly if foods have a high fat content. Becomes constant and more severe, lasting for several days.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
This is a procedure that helps diagnose and treat problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. It uses X-rays and a long, flexible, lighted tube (endoscope).
Endoscopic procedures—such as colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, and capsule endoscopy—are key to diagnosing IBD because they provide clear and detailed views of the gastrointestinal tract. They can help doctors diagnose IBD and differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
An upper endoscopy—called endoscopic gastroduodenoscopy (EGD)—is a procedure that helps find most stomach cancers. During this test, a doctor looks inside your stomach with a thin, lighted tube called an endoscope. The doctor guides it through your throat and down into your stomach. You are sedated during this test.
An upper GI endoscopy or EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) is a procedure to diagnose and treat problems in your upper GI (gastrointestinal) tract. The upper GI tract includes your food pipe (esophagus), stomach, and the first part of your small intestine (the duodenum).
Endoscopies are a minimally invasive procedure and are typically recommended to find the cause of digestive issues and symptoms, and in some cases to treat problems including: Chronic heartburn or acid reflux. Screen for colorectal cancer or cancers of the digestive tract. Biopsy suspicious growths or tissue.
An endoscopy can be used to view obstructions and diagnose and treat blockages in the digestive tract. This procedure can also be done to remove food or foreign objects stuck in the upper GI tract.
Endoscopies are performed for a variety of reasons. Stomach pain, ulcers, difficulty swallowing, constipation, unexplained bleeding, and other digestive tract issues could call for an endoscopy.
Intestinal endoscopies are the most accurate methods for diagnosing Crohn's disease and ruling out other possible conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, diverticular disease, or cancer.
The endoscope helps your provider see inside your esophagus and stomach. Test results may not show problems when reflux is present, but an endoscopy may detect inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis) or other complications.
Ngamruengphong explains why: “When we perform a screening endoscopy, we don't see a large mass when cancer is present. Instead, we often see very small, very subtle lesions.” Doctors with extensive experience using this screening tool can more easily spot the subtleties of very early stomach cancer.
Your doctor may be able to talk to you about some of the findings right after your endoscopy. But the medicines you get to help relax you may impair your memory, so your doctor may wait until they fully wear off. It may take 2 to 4 days for some results. Tests for certain infections may take several weeks.
Your doctor may suspect cancer if an abnormal-looking area is seen on endoscopy or an imaging test, but the only way to tell for sure if it's cancer is by doing a biopsy. During a biopsy, the doctor removes small pieces (samples) of the abnormal area.
Cobblestoning mucosa and aphthous or linear ulcers characterize the endoscopic appearance of Crohn's disease. Ulcerative colitis presents with diffuse continuous involvement of the mucosa. Radiographic studies of patients with Crohn's disease characteristically show fistulae, asymmetry, and ileal involvement.
Conditions a Colonoscopy can detect. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can not be diagnosed by colonoscopy, but if your doctor suspects you have IBS he will do a colonoscopy to make sure there is nothing else going on. People with IBS appear to have sensitive bowels that are easily 'upset'.
In severe cases, the doctor will order a particular type of endoscopy. An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or ERCP combines endoscopy and x-rays to check the gallbladder. This helps the doctor assess and treat gallstones and the gallbladder.
Liver disease and cirrhosis are common causes of mortality worldwide[1]. The role of endoscopy in liver disease is both diagnostic and interventional: endoscopy should be offered to patients with relevant symptoms (unsuspected liver disease may be diagnosed in this manner) and for variceal screening and treatment.
A group of blood tests called liver function tests can be used to diagnose liver disease. Other blood tests can be done to look for specific liver problems or genetic conditions.