What Diseases Can Be Detected by an Endoscopy?

How are the Diseases detected by an Endoscopy?

Healthcare providers mostly prescribe endoscopy to diagnose disease and screen organs. They can also use the procedure for different treatments. For instance, earlier bleeding of the stomach ulcer used to require surgery, but now it can be cured by endoscopy.

Endoscopy is a medical procedure that is conducted to examine the internal structures of your body. During the procedure, a healthcare expert inserts a long, flexible tube, medically known as an endoscope, inside your body until it reaches the organ that requires inspection.

Equipped with a light and camera at the end, the endoscope captures videos and images of organs and displays the same on the screens for detailed evaluation. Endoscopy is mostly done through the mouth or nose to inspect the areas of the gastrointestinal tract, including organs, tissues, and linings.

Diseases That Can Be Detected by an Endoscopy

Endoscopy can help a surgeon detect and diagnose various diseases. Have a look:

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Endoscopy offers direct visualisation of the intestinal lining. It enables doctors to identify inflammation and ulcers. Through the procedure, experts can also collect biopsy samples for histological analysis.
Pancreatitis: Pancreatitis refers to inflammation of the pancreas. Endoscopy provides detailed images of the pancreas and bile ducts. This allows doctors to identify abnormalities like inflammation, blockages, tumours, etc, that may have led to the condition.
Stomach Ulcer: A Stomach ulcer or gastric ulcer is a sore in the small intestine or on the lining of the stomach. It can also be detected by endoscopy. Doctors can observe the lining of the oesophagus, duodenum, and stomach and collect samples if necessary.
Gallstones: Endoscopy makes the bile and pancreatic ducts visible to doctors when diagnosing gallstones. Healthcare experts can also inject dye using an endoscope to increase the visibility of X-rays and identify any blockages or stones.
Oesophageal Stricture: An oesophageal stricture refers to an abnormal narrowing of the oesophagus that makes it difficult for beverages and foods to pass through. Endoscopy makes this thin lining visible to doctors so they can examine it in detail and pinpoint the issue.
Hiatal Hernia: This condition occurs when your stomach bulges up through the diaphragm due to weakened muscle tissue. Endoscopy permits doctors to screen the position of the diaphragmatic hiatus and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). This helps in searching for a 2 cm or more separation and assessing the flap-valve mechanism of the GEJ.
Unexplained Vaginal Bleeding: In case of unusual bleeding, doctors suggest an endoscopy to examine the uterine cavity (uterus) and cervix to find fibroids, polyps, or other structural abnormalities that might cause bleeding.
Celiac Disease: Celiac disorder is a chronic immune dysfunction that damages the lining of the intestine. Through endoscopy, doctors screen the small intestine and damaged villi, finger-like elements responsible for nutrient absorption, and scrap out required biopsy samples.
Chronic Constipation: Endoscopy can also help to detect the underlying reasons for chronic constipation by providing complete visibility of the rectum and colon. Doctors examine the area thoroughly to find obstructions, strictures, or other malformations that might have triggered the condition.
Cancer and Tumours: Whether it is abnormal lumps, ulcerations or masses in the gastrointestinal tract, healthcare experts can diagnose the deformation using endoscopy. If possible, they can also fetch tissue samples to determine the malignancy of the malformation.
Ulcerative Colitis: Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that results in sores and ulcers on the lining of the rectum and colon. Endoscopy helps physicians to get a closer look at the area and remove polyps if required.

In addition to the above-mentioned diseases, there are conditions such as infection, unusual bleeding in the digestive tract and others, where doctors often recommend endoscopy. However, your healthcare experts will review your symptoms and perform other physical examinations before advising endoscopy, as it serves as the ultimate resource to gain more precise insights about the cause of your symptoms.