Wireless Capsule Endoscopy

Diagnostic Applications

Currently, the primary use of capsule endoscopy is to identify the cause of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.  There are a number of different conditions that can cause obscure gastrointestinal bleeding including mucosal injury, polyps and tumors.  The capsule endoscope filled an unmet need as without its use 50% of gastrointestinal bleeding cases remain undiagnosed [5]. 

New applications of wireless capsule endoscopy are also underdevelopment.  Any condition that is characterized by visible changes in the lining of the intestine is a potential application.  Listed below are some conditions that could benefit from wireless capsule endoscopy.

Crohn’s disease, a condition is which the gastrointestinal tract becomes inflamed.  It is difficult to diagnosis because the symptoms are similar to other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome [5] [7].

www.medgadget.com

Celiac disease, an inability to digest gluten, the protein found in wheat.   Celiac disease results in damage to the small intestine.  Endoscopic diagnosis can evaluate the severity of this damage.  The image below show a section of small intestine that is smoother than normal due to Celiac Disease [5] [7].

www.celiacdiseasecenter.columbia.edu

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug reactions. A category of drugs used to treat pain and inflammation can also cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract.  The location and severity of this damge can be identified through endoscopy as can be seen in the image below which was taken using capsule endoscopy.[1].

www.givenimaging.com

Small-bowel transplant follow up.  The success of small bowel transplant can be monitored endoscopicaly [5].

Small-bowel cancers.  Although cancer in the small intestine is rare, it potentially dangerous because it difficult to diagnosis with commonly used techniques [1].

www.givenimaging.com