Use of video capsule endoscopy in Crohn's disease
Swaminath, A.; Kornbluth, A.
Minerva Gastroenterologica E Dietologica 56(4): 437-449
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 1121-421X PMID: 21139542 Document Number: 642374
Capsule endoscopy has been available since 2001 to image the small intestine, a boon to practitioners managing patients with inflammatory bowel disease. During the last ten years, new technologies have been developed, including computed tomographic enterography, magnetic resonance enterography, in addition to our standard small bowel follow through, all of which image the small bowel. This has created a situation in which multiple options are available to the gastroenterologist to image the small bowel, each with strengths. This review focuses on capsule endoscopy as it pertains to the imaging of the small bowel in patients with known or suspected Crohn's disease. We will focus on comparative imaging data, how capsule endoscopy may aid in the prediction of disease type and course, the avoidance and meaning of capsule retention, along with cost considerations, and directions for the future.