Review
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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 7, 2009; 15(13): 1584-1586
Published online Apr 7, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.1584
Capsule endoscopy
Miguel Muñoz-Navas
Miguel Muñoz-Navas, Gastroenterology Department, University Clinic of Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain
Author contributions: Muñoz-Navas M wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Miguel Muñoz-Navas, MD, Gastroenterology Department, University Clinic of Navarra, Pio XII 36, Pamplona 31008, Spain. mmunoz@unav.es
Telephone: +34-948-296730
Fax: +34-948-296500
Received: October 22, 2008
Revised: February 12, 2009
Accepted: February 19, 2009
Published online: April 7, 2009
Abstract

Capsule endoscopy (CE) is a simple, safe, non-invasive, reliable technique, well accepted and tolerated by the patients, which allows complete exploration of the small intestine. The advent of CE in 2000 has dramatically changed the diagnosis and management of many diseases of the small intestine, such as obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, Crohn’s disease, small bowel tumors, polyposis syndromes, etc. CE has become the gold standard for the diagnosis of most diseases of the small bowel. Lately this technique has also been used for esophageal and colonic diseases.

Keywords: Capsule endoscopy; Small intestine; Gastrointestinal hemorrhage; Crohn’s disease; Gastro-intestinal neoplasms; Intestinal polyposis