An endoscope is an instrument that has a light or camera at the end of it, so the physician can see the inside of an organ or cavity of the body. Endoscopy is the overall medical term for any procedure that uses an endoscope. Different types of endoscopes allow a physician to see different parts of the body and perform different procedures.
Bronchoscope
A bronchoscope is the type of endoscope a physician uses to see inside the trachea and bronchi airways of the lungs. There are two types of bronchoscopes, according to the online Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Flexible bronchoscopes are used most of the time to help make the diagnosis and perform many procedures. A rigid bronchoscope can view certain lesions and hemorrhages, and remove foreign objects lodged in the throat of a child.
ERCP
ERCP, or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, is a procedure that combines the use of an endoscope with x-ray to check for any gallstones and narrow bile ducts. The liver makes bile to break down fats. Bile leaves the liver and enters the gallbladder or the small intestines through ducts. If bile contains a lot of cholesterol, or a substance called bilirubin, it can get hard and form gallstones. Gallstones can sometimes grow too large to pass through a bile duct. An ERCP can diagnose the disorder, remove stones, drain fluid, take tissue samples and widen bile ducts, as explained by David Carr-Locke, M.D. in "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, & Endoscopy."
EGD
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, or EGD, is also referred to as upper endoscopy because this procedure uses a flexible endoscope to examine the esophagus, stomach and duodenum section of the small intestines. These structures are in the upper part of the digestive system. Physicians use this type of endoscope to check for lesions, Barrett's esophagus or ulcers in the stomach or duodenum. This endoscope can also be used to take a biopsy or perform therapy, writes Louis Wong-Kee-Song, M.D. in "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine." Barrett's esophagus is a disorder in the esophagus, which is caused by reflux. It can lead to cancer.
Colonoscope
The large intestines are also called the colon. A colonoscope is the type of endoscope that is used for examining and treating some medical disorders that involve the lower part of the digestive system, or the colon and rectum. In "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," Dr. Wong-Kee-Song writes that this endoscope examines the colon for disorders such as polyps, colitis and colorectal cancer. Polyps are growths that protrude from the intestinal wall, while colitis is the inflammation of the colon. Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon and rectum. The colonoscope is not only used to diagnose colorectal cancer, but it is also used to screen for this disease.
References
- "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, & Endoscopy"; Norton Greenberger, M.D.; 2009
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Anthony Fauci, M.D., Dennis Kasper, M.D., Dan Longo, M.D. et al.; 2008
- The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Bronchoscopy
Member Comments