Our GP is ready to help you if you want to be sure that you are healthy and in good shape, you have medical questions or problems and want to discuss with an experienced doctor, you have some unknown symptoms and want to know what they could be related to, you want to know another medical opinion about the best way of treatment of your disease.
Endoscopy allows the doctor to look at the interior lining of the
esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine through an
endoscope (a thin,
flexible viewing instrument). The tip of the endoscope is
inserted through the mouth and then gently advanced down the throat into the
esophagus, stomach, and upper small intestine (duodenum).
Since the entire upper
gastrointestinal (GI) tract can be examined during
this test, the procedure is sometimes called esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).
Through the endoscope, your doctor can look for
ulcers, inflammation, tumors, infection, or bleeding.
Tissue samples can be collected (biopsy), polyps
can be removed, and bleeding can be treated through the endoscope. Endoscopy
can reveal problems that do not show up on X-ray tests, and it can sometimes
eliminate the need for exploratory surgery.
Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Results
Your doctor may be able to discuss some of the findings with you
immediately after the procedure. However, the medications given to help relax
you may impair your memory, so your doctor may wait until the medication wears
off completely.
Upper gastrointestinal
endoscopy
Normal:
The esophagus, stomach, and upper small intestine appear
normal.
Abnormal:
Stomach ulcers or inflammation of the
esophagus (esophagitis), stomach (gastritis), or
duodenum are seen. Inflammation can be caused by
conditions such as
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD),
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or
peptic ulcer disease.
Bleeding caused by inflammation, an ulcer, a tumor, a tear
in the esophagus, or dilated veins (esophageal varices) is present.
A
hiatal hernia or narrowing (stricture) or widening
(dilation) of the esophagus may be seen.
Samples can be taken of suspected tumors and ulcers to find out whether they are cancerous. A biopsy may also be taken to see if you are
infected with a type of bacteria called Helicobacter
pylori. Lab results may not be available until several days after your
test.
Medical online consultation with qualified doctors
Copyright © 2004-2005