What is an endoscopy?
An endoscopy is a procedure done to examine structures inside your body up close. During an endoscopy, a healthcare provider places a long, thin tube (endoscope) inside your body until it reaches the organ or area they need to check. Most endoscopes have a light and special camera at the end. The scope captures images or videos of organs or other body parts. It displays them on a screen your provider sees.
Many endoscopes have special channels inside. Providers can insert operating instruments to remove tissue or perform surgery during an endoscopy.
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What are the types of endoscopy?
There are many types of endoscopy procedures. But they all work in the same basic way. A healthcare provider gently inserts a scope into a body opening or small incision. The scope allows them direct access to parts of your body they need to examine or treat.
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Key differences include:
- The procedure name. The name usually reflects the organ your provider is checking. For example, a “colonoscopy” is an endoscopy that examines your colon.
- The type of scope. The name usually reflects the organ, too. So the endoscope used for a colonoscopy is called a colonoscope. Endoscopes differ depending on the tasks they help your provider complete. Some are flexible, while others are rigid. Some have channels inside that hold tools that can remove tissue, seal wounds or perform other treatments.
The procedure specifics, including the body parts your provider is examining and where the scope goes in, are different, too.
- Anoscopy: Scope goes through your anus (butthole) to look at your anus and rectum.
- Arthroscopy: Scope goes through an incision above your joint to look for damage or conditions like arthritis.
- Bronchoscopy: Scope goes through your mouth or nostril to look at your trachea (windpipe) and lungs.
- Colonoscopy: Scope goes through your anus to look at your entire large intestine (colon).
- Cystoscopy: Scope goes through your urethra (the tube that allows pee out of your body) to look at it and your bladder.
- Enteroscopy: Scope goes through your mouth (for upper enteroscopy) or your anus (for lower enteroscopy) to look at your small intestine.
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or upper endoscopy: Scope goes through your mouth to look at your esophagus, stomach and the upper part of your small intestine.
- Hysteroscopy: Scope goes through your vagina to look at your uterus.
- Laparoscopy: Scope goes through an incision in your abdomen to look at your abdominal and reproductive organs.
- Laryngoscopy: Scope goes through your mouth or nostril to look at your voice box (larynx).
- Mediastinoscopy: Scope goes through an incision above your breast bone to look at the area between your lungs that includes your heart, esophagus and windpipe (mediastinum).
- Neuroendoscopy: Scope goes through an incision in your skull to look at your brain.
- Proctoscopy (rigid sigmoidoscopy): Scope goes through your anus to look at your anus and rectum.
- Sigmoidoscopy (flexible sigmoidoscopy): Scope goes through your anus to look at the lower part of your colon (called the sigmoid) and your rectum.
- Thoracoscopy (also called a pleuroscopy): Scope goes through an incision in your chest to look at your lungs and the area around your lungs, including your diaphragm, esophagus and chest walls.
- Ureteroscopy: Scope goes through your urethra to look at the tubes that connect your kidneys to your bladder (ureters).
Advanced endoscopy techniques
Researchers and scientists continually develop new technologies to make endoscopies even less invasive. For example, a capsule endoscopy shows your organs up close without a scope. Instead, you swallow a vitamin-sized capsule with a camera inside. As the capsule travels through your esophagus, stomach and small intestine, it takes pictures that can help diagnose bleeding and tumors in your digestive system.
What does an endoscopy test for?
Healthcare providers use endoscopies to screen for conditions and diagnose diseases. A colonoscopy is probably the most well-known endoscopy used to screen for diseases. It’s used to detect colon cancer. One of the most well-known diagnostic uses of endoscopy is that it allows providers to remove abnormal tissue for lab testing. This is called a biopsy. Biopsies can show if growths are cancerous or noncancerous.
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When providers first used endoscopy, they primarily used it to examine organs. Now, they can use endoscopy for many different treatments, such as fixing a bleeding stomach ulcer. In the past, a problem like this could’ve required surgery.
Diseases an endoscopy can detect
An endoscopy can detect diseases that affect your:
- Digestive system, including gastrointestinal diseases, colon polyps and colon cancer.
- Head and neck, including swallowing disorders and laryngitis.
- Joints, including arthritis, tears and dislocations.
- Nervous system, including brain tumors.
- Respiratory system, including lung disease and infections.
- Urinary system, including urinary tract infections (UTIs) and kidney stones.
- Reproductive system, including abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis and fertility issues.
Endoscopy treatments
Some endoscopes can be used with instruments that allow providers to:
- Seal wounds.
- Inject medicine.
- Drain fluid.
- Stop internal bleeding.
- Remove damaged tissue or tumors.
- Fix blockages or widen organs that are too narrow.
- Place stents (tiny tubes that open a blocked or damaged organ).
- Perform surgeries.
During a laparoscopy, providers operate on organs through tiny incisions instead of a large opening. This is sometimes called keyhole surgery. It’s much less invasive than traditional surgery. It’s the preferred technique for treating many conditions.
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