New gastrointestinal diagnostic modalities : capsule endoscopy

Abstract

With an approximate length of 15 feet, the small intestine presents a daunting challenge to the clinician faced with symptoms referable to this relatively inaccessible area. In the last decade, capsule endoscopy (CE) has established an increasingly broad niche in the diagnostic armamentarium of both paediatric and adult clinicians; it is now the established standard of care in the work up of obscure gastrointestinal hemorrhage, suspected Crohn's Disease, polyposis syndromes and arguably, chronic abdominal pain.