Endoscopy is a diagnostic procedure used to diagnose diseases of the digestive tract. A long flexible optic fibre with a camera and a light source at the tip is inserted through the mouth. This transmits images to a television monitor which helps the gastroenterologist to view the digestive tract from inside. During endoscopy, if surgical tools are introduced through the endoscope for taking tissue samples or to treat certain diseases of the biliary and pancreatic ducts, the procedure is called interventional endoscopy.
The interventional endoscopy procedures are broadly classified into:
Endoscopic ultrasound
Endoscopic ultrasound utilises endoscope and high frequency sound waves to diagnose the abnormalities in digestive tract. In this procedure echoendoscope a special device that has an ultrasound probe on the tip is used to obtain the images of internal organs of the digestive tract. It is used to take biopsy of the tumours, cysts or lymph nodes through a small needle in the endoscope (fine needle aspiration) and to give injection into the nerves of the celiac plexus using imaging, when narcotics cannot provide relief from intense pain in pancreatic cancer or chronic pancreatitis.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
In endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) once the endoscope reaches the papilla the place where the pancreas and bile ducts meet, a thin tube will be inserted through the endoscope and a dye is injected into the ducts. X-ray images are taken to diagnose any problem related to the ducts. In case a problem is detected the doctor may give treatment at the same time.
