What Is an Endoscopy and Which Disease Can It Detect?
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Endoscopy has transformed how doctors find and treat health problems, offering a way to look inside the body without major surgery. By giving a clear view of what’s happening inside, endoscopy allows for faster answers and more personalized treatments, helping patients feel better sooner.
In this blog, we speak to Neal Kaushal, M.D., a board-certified gastroenterologist with INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Gastroenterology Edmond, to learn more.
“Endoscopies are especially helpful for spotting issues like early-stage cancer, stomach ulcers, unexplained bleeding or infections,” Kaushal says. “If you’re experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms, it’s best to speak with your primary care provider to see if an endoscopy might be right for you.”
What is an endoscopy?
What to know: An endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure using a flexible tube with a camera to examine internal organs, aiding in the diagnosis, identification and treatment of various medical conditions.
Endoscopies offer several key benefits, making them a preferred choice in addition to other tests such as blood work, stool tests and imaging scans.
- They are non-surgical – meaning no incisions are required – which reduces discomfort and risk for patients.
- These procedures may provide rapid diagnosis, delivering immediate insights into potential medical issues.
- Additionally, some endoscopies can include treatments, such as removing polyps, during the same session.
- With most patients able to resume normal activities within a day, endoscopies also ensure a quick recovery, combining effective care with convenience.
The purpose of an endoscopy can be either diagnostic, therapeutic, or in some cases, both.
- An endoscopy (upper or lower) is the gold standard for detecting esophagus cancer and colorectal cancer.
- During the procedure, your doctor can take biopsies to collect tissue samples for further analysis, which is often needed for diagnosing diseases such as celiac disease or H. pylori infection.
- Polyps or small tumors can be extracted during the procedure.
- In the case of gastrointestinal bleeding, an endoscopy can help identify and stop the source of bleeding.
- An endoscopy can sometimes treat blockages by dilating narrowed areas of the esophagus or removing foreign objects.
The name of an endoscopy is based on the area of the body being examined.
- Upper endoscopy examines the esophagus, stomach and upper part of the small intestine (duodenum).
- Colonoscopy inspects the colon (large intestine) for polyps, cancer or inflammatory bowel disease.
- Bronchoscopy observes the airways and lungs.
- Capsule endoscopy uses a small capsule with a camera that you swallow to capture images of the small intestine.
- Cystoscopy takes images of the bladder and urethra.
- Arthroscopy evaluates joints using a small incision to insert the scope.
- Endoscopic ultrasound combines endoscopy with ultrasound to examine the digestive tract and surrounding tissues.
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is used to evaluate and treat conditions in the bile and pancreatic ducts.
- Hysteroscopy examines the uterus and cervix.
- Laryngoscopy investigates the throat, larynx and vocal cords.
Endoscopy vs. colonoscopy
The main differences: Upper endoscopy and colonoscopy are the two most common types of endoscopies. Upper endoscopy, or esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), examines the esophagus, stomach and upper small intestine to diagnose conditions like acid reflux, ulcers, swallowing difficulties or unexplained abdominal pain. Colonoscopy evaluates the colon (large intestine) and rectum to screen for colorectal cancer, investigate changes in bowel habits or identify causes of bleeding.
Upper endoscopy focuses on the upper digestive system, including the esophagus, stomach and the initial part of the small intestine (duodenum).
- The primary purposes of an upper endoscopy are to investigate symptoms like acid reflux, persistent nausea, difficulty swallowing or unexplained abdominal pain.
- It can also help diagnose conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcers, celiac disease or esophageal cancer.
- Doctors can perform therapeutic interventions during this procedure, such as removing blockages, treating bleeding or taking tissue biopsies for testing.
Colonoscopy examines the lower digestive tract, specifically the colon and rectum.
- The main purpose of a colonoscopy is to screen for colorectal cancer.
- A colonoscopy can identify and remove polyps, which are small growths that may develop into cancer if left untreated.
- They’re also helpful in investigating symptoms such as rectal bleeding, changes in bowel habits or chronic diarrhea.
- Doctors use colonoscopies to monitor patients with inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
What diseases can be detected by an endoscopy?
Key points: An endoscopy can detect a wide range of conditions across various parts of the body. Upper endoscopy identifies digestive issues such as GERD, ulcers and celiac disease, while a colonoscopy can detect polyps, colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. Meanwhile, bronchoscopy examines the airways to detect lung infections, obstructions and lung cancer. Other specialized endoscopies, such as EUS and cystoscopy, can reveal gallstones, pancreatic cancer and bladder tumors.
Upper endoscopy
- Digestive diseases and injuries
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Peptic ulcers (stomach and duodenal)
- Esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus)
- Gastritis (stomach inflammation)
- Duodenitis (inflammation of the duodenum)
- Barrett's esophagus
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
- Varices (enlarged veins in the esophagus or stomach, often due to liver disease)
- Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (from ulcers, varices or erosions)
- Strictures or narrowing in the esophagus
- Cancers
- Esophageal cancer
- Stomach (gastric) cancer
- Lymphomas in the upper digestive tract
- Other conditions
- Celiac disease
- Foreign body obstruction in the esophagus
- Hiatal hernia
- H. pylori infection diagnosis (through biopsy)
- Structural abnormalities or deformities
- Post-surgery complications
Colonoscopy
- Digestive diseases and injuries
- Colorectal polyps (precancerous growths)
- Colorectal cancer
- Diverticulosis (small pouches in the colon wall)
- Diverticulitis (infected or inflamed diverticula)
- Hemorrhoids
- Chronic diarrhea or constipation causes
- Fecal incontinence causes
- Bowel obstructions
- Intestinal perforations (injuries or tears)
- Strictures or narrowing in the colon
- Internal or occult bleeding sources
- Inflammatory conditions
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s disease
- Microscopic colitis
- Pseudomembranous colitis (often related to C. diff infection)
- Cancers
- Colorectal cancer
- Rectal cancer
Capsule endoscopy
- Digestive diseases
- Small bowel bleeding sources (from ulcers or vascular lesions like angioectasia)
- Crohn’s disease
- Small bowel tumors
- Celiac disease (damage to the intestinal lining)
- Infectious enteritis
- Small intestine ischemia (reduced blood flow)
- Cancers
- Small bowel cancers, like adenocarcinoma
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumors
- Neuroendocrine tumors
- Mets (metastatic cancers affecting the small bowel)
Bronchoscopy
- Respiratory diseases and injuries
- Airway obstructions (foreign bodies, scarring or strictures)
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia (confirmation and evaluation)
- Pulmonary infections (viral, bacterial or fungal)
- Tracheal or bronchial injuries
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Bronchiectasis
- Cancers
- Lung cancer (including small-cell and non-small-cell varieties)
- Cancer of the trachea
- Tumor metastases affecting airways or lungs
- Other conditions
- Sarcoidosis (inflammatory disease affecting the lungs)
- Tuberculosis
- Bleeding in the airways (hemoptysis)
- Lymph node biopsy for cancer staging and diagnosis
Endoscopic ultrasound
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Gallstones or bile duct stones
- Pancreatitis and chronic pancreatic damage
- Cystic lesions in the pancreas
- Liver conditions affecting the bile duct (biliary duct strictures)
- Cancers
- Pancreatic cancer
- Esophageal cancer staging
- Rectal cancer staging
- Gastric cancer staging
- Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)
- Ampullary cancer (tumors in the bile duct opening)
- Lymph node metastases near gastrointestinal organs
Cystoscopy
- Urinary diseases
- Bladder stones
- Urethral strictures
- Interstitial cystitis (chronic bladder inflammation)
- Hematuria (blood in the urine)
- Cancers
- Bladder cancer
- Urethral cancer
- Prostate cancer
Hysteroscopy
- Gynecological diseases
- Uterine fibroids
- Uterine or cervical polyps
- Uterine adhesions (from scarring or infections)
- Abnormal uterine bleeding causes
- Cancers
- Uterine cancer
- Endometrial cancer
- Cervical cancer
Arthroscopy
- Musculoskeletal injuries
- Torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or other ligaments
- Meniscal tears in the knee
- Rotator cuff injuries in the shoulder
- Joint capsule tears
- Inflammatory conditions
- Rheumatoid arthritis damage
- Synovitis (inflammation of joint lining)
- Joint conditions
- Osteoarthritis cartilage damage
- Gout (urate crystal deposition damage)
- Joint infections
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Digestive diseases
- Gallstones blocking the bile duct
- Pancreatic duct obstructions
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Bile duct strictures
- Cancers
- Pancreatic cancer
- Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer)
- Tumors of the ampulla of Vater
Laryngoscopy
- Diseases and injuries
- Vocal cord nodules or polyps
- Laryngitis
- Vocal cord paralysis
- Foreign body obstruction
- Throat injuries
- Cancers
- Laryngeal cancer
- Throat cancer
- Vocal cord cancer
Next steps: Take the first step toward better health with INTEGRIS Health’s advanced endoscopy services. Our state-of-the-art suites in Edmond are designed to provide diagnoses and care for many conditions. Schedule your appointment today or learn more about how our expert team can support your health by visiting our endoscopy services page.
