WHAT IS ENDOSCOPY? WHEN IS IT DONE?
Endoscopy, with its shortest definition, is the examination of the digestive system parts from the mouth up to the stomach exit and the first part of the duodenum with a camera. The procedure is done with an elastic high-tech tube (endoscope) with a small camera at the end. Another name for the endoscopy procedure is gastroscopy.
With endoscopy, the oral cavity, throat, esophagus, stomach and duodenum can be seen clearly with the camera. Diseases (such as ulcers, cancer) are diagnosed. In some cases, endoscopic treatments are performed (such as stopping bleeding).
Endoscopy is performed safely under the guidance of an anesthesiologist, under full sleep, without making the patient feel anything. The side effects of endoscopy are very few and negligible.
Endoscopy should ideally be performed by physicians who specialize in gastroenterology. Endoscopy is sometimes routinely performed on patients who have no complaints. Sometimes it is applied to individuals with obvious complaints for the purpose of examination.
Who should have routine endoscopy?
- Anyone over the age of 45-50 should have an endoscopy. Because it is now a common practice to detect and treat precancerous lesions early on without cancer. Endoscopy is the most important way to diagnose stomach cancer at an early stage or without it.
- In addition, endoscopy should be performed earlier in patients with a family history of gastric-esophageal cancer. In this case, endoscopic follow-up should be performed starting from the 10th year before the cancer in the patient with a family history of cancer. For example, a sibling whose older sister has stomach cancer at the age of 40 should start performing endoscopy from the age of 30.
When should other patients have an endoscopy other than routine endoscopy?
- Endoscopy has no age. If necessary, endoscopy can be performed at any age. If the patient has a significant complaint, endoscopy can be performed if the doctor deems it necessary.
- not cured by drugs;
- Stomache ache
- heartburn
- Reflux complaints
- Vomiting
- chest burn
- Swelling
- early satiety
- weight loss
- bloody vomiting
- …etc. endoscopy can be done in all cases
- anemia (anemia)
- Celiac disease suspected
- Those with a family history of cancer
- those with Crohn’s disease
- Those with cirrhosis
- For weight loss purposes such as Botox and balloon
- When a piece of the stomach (biopsy) needs to be taken
- …etc. In many cases, endoscopy can be performed.
With endoscopy, the esophagus, stomach and the first part of the intestine are fully seen with a camera. If necessary, parts can be taken for helicobacter bacteria and diseases that can be seen under the microscope (such as dysplasia, metaplasia). Depending on the result of the part, it may be necessary to continue endoscopic follow-up if necessary.
Those who have stomach ulcers as a result of endoscopy, those who are found to have atrophy and metaplasia, those who have balloon dilation to the stomach, those who are treated for cirrhosis, and those who have a family history of cancer may need to repeat the endoscopy within the period recommended by the doctor. Repetition of endoscopy is not related to the patient’s complaint. Endoscopy can be performed for certain periods to determine whether the disease progresses or not.
Are there any alternatives to endoscopy? Endoscopy is a unique examination and there is no alternative. Of course, when endoscopy cannot be performed, imaging can be performed with examinations such as tomography and MRI. However, these do not even come close to the possibilities that endoscopy offers us.
Finally, let’s summarize. If we have a problem, we can have endoscopy at any age. Let’s follow the gastroenterology department as much as possible. Apart from that, when we reach the age of 45-50 -just as women get breast and cervix examination and men have prostate examination – let us have endoscopy and colonoscopy for tumor screening without expecting any complaints.
Assoc. Dr. Turan CALHAN
