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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 28, 2014; 20(36): 13006-13014
Published online Sep 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i36.13006
Is there a role for colon capsule endoscopy beyond colorectal cancer screening? A literature review
Konstantinos Triantafyllou, Iosif Beintaris, George D Dimitriadis
Konstantinos Triantafyllou, Iosif Beintaris, George D Dimitriadis, Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, 12462 Haidari, Greece
Author contributions: Triantafyllou K conceived the idea, reviewed the manuscript for intellectual content and finally approved it; Beintaris I searched the literature, drafted and finally approved the manuscript; Dimitriadis GD reviewed the manuscript for intellectual content and finally approved it.
Correspondence to: Konstantinos Triantafyllou, Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology, Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, Rimini 1, 12462 Haidari, Greece. ktriant@med.uoa.gr
Telephone: +30-210-5326422  Fax: +30-210-5326422
Received: November 25, 2013
Revised: February 11, 2014
Accepted: April 5, 2014
Published online: September 28, 2014
Abstract

Colon capsule endoscopy is recommended in Europe alternatively to colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening in average risk individuals. The procedure has also been proposed to complete colon examination in cases of incomplete colonoscopy or when colonoscopy is contraindicated or refused by the patient. As tissue samples cannot be obtained with the current capsule device, colon capsule endoscopy has no place in diagnosing ulcerative colitis or in dysplasia surveillance. Nevertheless, data are accumulating regarding its feasibility to examine ulcerative colitis disease extent and to monitor disease activity and mucosal healing, even though reported results on the capsule’s performance in this field vary greatly. In this review we present the currently available evidence for the use of colon capsule endoscopy to complement colonoscopy failure to reach the cecum and its use to evaluate ulcerative colitis disease activity and extent. Moreover, we provide an outlook on issues requiring further investigation before the capsule becomes a mainstream alternative to colonoscopy in such cases.

Keywords: Colon, Capsule endoscopy, Incomplete colonoscopy, Ulcerative colitis, Gastrointestinal endoscopy

Core tip: Colon capsule endoscopy has a potential to become an endoscopic modality to investigate the colon after incomplete colonoscopy and to estimate ulcerative colitis extent and activity. While for the former indication strong evidence has been accumulating, for the latter the evidence is still limited.