What is An Endoscopy?
Endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure used to inspect a patient’s digestive tract. Doctors use an endoscope, or a tube equipped with a light and camera, to view images of the digestive tract on a TV monitor. Areas examined include the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder and colon.
Conditions & Procedures
Common Conditions
Endoscopic procedures can help identify and diagnose a number of patient health conditions, including:
- Stomach pain
- Crohn’s disease
- Difficulty swallowing
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Reflux, polyps, ulcers and colon cancer.
Additional Background on Colon Cancer
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States, but when detected early through regular screenings, it’s 90% curable. According to the American Cancer Society the new recommendations say screening should begin at 45 years old for people at average risk.