Endoscopy is a procedure that lets your doctor look inside your body. It uses an instrument called an endoscope, or scope for short. Scopes have a tiny camera attached to a long, thin tube. The doctor moves it through a body passageway or opening to see inside an organ. Sometimes scopes are used for surgery, such as for removing polyps from the colon.
There are many different kinds of endoscopy. Below are the names of some of them and where they look.
- Colonoscopy – the large intestine
- Upper GI endoscopy – esophagus and stomach
Endoscopy is a series of nonsurgical procedures that can both diagnose and treat problems within the digestive tract or other internal organs. Board certified gastroenterologists utilize state-of-the-art computers, scopes and cameras to examine the digestive tract. These procedures are used to diagnose and treat diseases like gastritis, ulcers, benign and malignant tumors, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Sentara combines a network of highly trained physicians, licensed nursing staff and the latest in endoscopic examination equipment, facilities and non-invasive gastrointestinal and pulmonary procedures. Most procedures are available at all Sentara hospitals and many of our hospitals also offer highly specialized services.
According to the National Cancer Institute, cancers of the colon and rectum are the third most diagnosed cancer in both men and women, and the second leading cause of death from a cancer in the United States. Colorectal cancer screening is routinely authorized by most insurance providers for patients 50 years or older and those patients with a family history of colorectal cancer. Contact your primary care physician for more details about scheduling a screening.