3 key facts about capsule endoscopy to diagnose Crohn’s disease

Standard diagnostic services, such as upper endoscopy or colonoscopy, may not be appropriate for evaluating certain conditions. These conditions generally affect the small intestine, which may not be reached and examined with traditional upper endoscopy/colonoscopy. Enter the capsule endoscopy. Courtesy of this advanced “camera pill” screening, Triborough GI is pleased to take a closer look at one of the conditions that may be evaluated with the following three key facts.

1. Capsule endoscopy may be recommended to diagnose Crohn’s disease.

Typically, this condition, characterized by irritation of the intestines, occurs in the last portion of the small intestine (and at the beginning of the colon). Without treatment, it can affect other parts of your digestive tract. To avoid potential damage, we need to rule out other conditions and determine the cause of any distressing symptoms if Crohn’s disease is suspected. Although there is no cure for Crohn’s disease, we can effectively manage it with medications and nutritional guidance to avoid flare-ups.

2. Certain symptoms may warrant further investigation and can be red flags for Crohn’s.

Like many other GI-related conditions, Crohn’s disease shares several symptoms with other digestive problems and disorders. However, patients often come to us with increasing complaints about persistent diarrhea, abdominal cramps and pain, fatigue, a sense of urgency to have a bowel movement, fever, and weight loss. Again, these are the most common symptoms. Other potential signs may extend beyond the digestive tract and manifest as joint pain, rashes, and swollen and inflamed eyes. The nature and severity of your symptoms can depend on the parts of the digestive tract that are affected/irritated.

3. Capsule endoscopy can be the first step in effective Crohn’s management.

In order to treat or manage any condition, including Crohn’s disease, we must first accurately understand the health and function of your digestive system. Certain diagnostic services and technologies do a better job of assessing specific conditions than others. Due to the areas typically involved with Crohn’s disease, the capsule endoscopy service can be helpful and enlightening. It provides insights into areas of the digestive tract that may not be seen with upper endoscopy or colonoscopy. We refer to it as a “camera pill,” as that’s essentially what it is – a small pill or capsule that you swallow. This pill contains a tiny camera. As the camera works its way through your digestive tract, it takes pictures. These photos are later analyzed by our team. So, we can use them to make a sound diagnosis. This diagnosis provides recommendations for treating or managing your underlying conditions, be it Crohn’s or something else entirely.

If you suspect Crohn’s disease is the source of your worrisome and distressing symptoms, contact Triborough GI today. During your visit, we may provide greater detail on how diagnostic services like capsule endoscopy work. From there, we can get you on the road to improved health and quality of life. Our teams can be reached at (718) 795-2734 (Brooklyn), (718) 865-3960 (Bushwick), (718) 710-4906 (Staten Island), or (718) 360-1632 (Bronx, NY).

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