Liver Diseases & Hepatology

Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Gastrointestinal endoscopy is a medical procedure that allows a doctor to examine the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and colon. It's typically performed using a flexible tube with a light and camera at its tip, called an endoscope. During the procedure, the endoscope is inserted through the mouth or anus and carefully guided through the digestive tract. The camera allows the doctor to visualize the internal organs and detect any abnormalities such as inflammation, ulcers, bleeding, tumors, or other lesions.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy serves various diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. It can help diagnose conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers, Crohn's disease, colorectal cancer, and more. Additionally, certain treatments can be performed during endoscopy, such as removing polyps, stopping bleeding, dilating narrowed areas, or taking tissue samples for biopsy.