A report in the October issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology states that capsule endoscopy can aid in the identification and management of small bowel tumors. Capsule endoscopy lets your doctor examine the lining of the middle part of your gastrointestinal tract. Your doctor will use a pill sized video capsule called an endoscope, which has its own lens and light source and will view the images on a video monitor.
Capsule endoscopy helps your doctor evaluate the small intestine. This part of the bowel cannot be reached by traditional upper endoscopy or by colonoscopy. The most common reason for having this procedure is to search for cause of bleeding from the intestine. It may also be used to detect polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers and tumors of the small intestine.
Dr. Adam Bailey from the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney says "Capsule endoscopy has the potential to achieve earlier diagnosis of small bowel malignancies offering a greater chance of cure. It should be used early in the course of investigation of suspected small bowel disease, avoiding the delay that has let to many patients having advanced disease at diagnoses.
