When is Endoscopy Indicated

	Capsule Endoscopy
	Gastroscopy
	Colonoscopy

Capsule Endoscopy

With "Capsule Endoscopy", patients do not need to swallow an endoscope tube at all.

Here a tiny video camera is packaged into the size of a megavitamin pill weighing a mere 4g.

The pill-sized camera encapsulates all image-capture, illumination, activation, transmission and control circuits within a two-piece biocompatible plastic capsule. Once in the gut, the capsule provides up to 57,000 images at a 2fps rate during its 8 hour transition thorough the gastrointestinal tract.

Capsule endoscopy is most useful to investigate problems of the small bowel, an area which cannot be reached by conventional endoscopes. Common indications include unexplained anemia, chronic abdominal pain or chronic diarrhea. Research works are underway to explore its use in diagnosing diseases in the large bowel.

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Gastroscopy

OGD is short for "oesophageal-gastro-duodenoscopy". Since OGD examines the upper gastrointestinal tract, it is also called Upper Endoscopy.

The test is performed to examine your upper gastrointestinal tract to diagnosis and treat diseases or conditions such as:

-Ulcers in the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum; occasionally these ulcers can be malignant
-Tumors of the stomach or esophagus
-Inflammation of the lining of the upper gastrointestinal tract (esophagitis or gastritis)
-Suspected intestinal bleeding
-For patients who have symptoms such as difficulty in swallowing, upper abdominal pain, heart burn or indigestion

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Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is an endoscopy of your large intestine. The exam is an important tool in the early detection and prevention of cancer in the large bowel. It can also confirm the diagnosis of many diseases of the lower gastrointestinal tract:

	Colon cancer - a serious but highly curable malignancy
	Polyps - fleshy tumors which may be forerunners of colon cancer
	Inflammation of the colon (colitis) which may be chronic and recurrent
	Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis - pockets along the intestinal wall that can become infected
	Suspected bleeding in the large bowel
	Abdominal symptoms, such as pain or discomfort, chronic diarrhea, constipation, or a change in bowel habits

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