According to a gastroenterologist in Mukundapur, Kolkata, an endoscopy is a procedure that can diagnose and treat problems in your gastrointestinal tract. It is done with the help of a long, flexible tube called an endoscope which has a small camera attached to one of its ends. During the procedure, an endoscope can be inserted to-
- Take samples for a biopsy
- Stop any bleeding
- Inject fluid or air
- Remove food and other substances that might be stuck in the digestive tract
Signs that you need an endoscopy
As per the best gastroenterologist in South Kolkata, your doctor will recommend an endoscopy to find out the cause behind the following symptoms.
- Chest or belly pain
- Difficulty swallowing
- Persistent vomiting due to an unknown reason
- Bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract
What are some digestive diseases that endoscopy can diagnose?
An endoscopy can help diagnose the following digestive conditions.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
GERD, or Gastroesophageal reflux disease, occurs when gastric acid flows from the stomach into your esophagus, which can cause damage to the lining of your esophagus. If you experience heartburn, indigestion, or nausea, you might have this disease. To get a proper diagnosis, you can reach out to the best gastroenterology doctors in Santoshpur.
Gastrointestinal cancer
During an endoscopy, ulcerations and growths can be found. If required, the doctor will take tissue samples for biopsy at the time of this procedure. This test will help gastroenterologists determine whether these growths are cancerous.
Peptic ulcers
An endoscopy can detect peptic ulcers, which are open sores that form due to acids and cause inflammation in the upper gastrointestinal tract. With the help of this procedure, doctors can detect inflammation inside your stomach (gastric ulcer), duodenum (duodenal ulcer), and esophagus (esophageal ulcer).
Liver disease
Through an endoscopy, your gastroenterologist will be able to detect the following symptoms of liver disease.
- Anomalies in the liver structure, including the blood vessels
- Bleeding in the liver
- Non-cancerous lesions in the liver
- Liver cirrhosis
- Fatty liver
Pancreatitis
With the help of endoscopy, your gastroenterologist can determine the following causes of pancreatitis.
- Gallstones
- Cysts and tumours, which might also denote pancreatic cancer
- Blockages in your bile duct
- Other structural anomalies
We have discussed above the procedure of endoscopy and how it can diagnose different digestive conditions. Reach out to the best gastroenterologists in South Kolkata to review your symptoms and check whether you need an endoscopy.