During the diagnostic phase, health care providers will often perform an array of tests based on a patient’s symptoms. Often, they will start with a standard blood test, giving them a broad overview of the patient’s overall health while isolating areas that might need further exploration. In some cases, additional testing will be needed, and a provider will recommend that an internal scope be performed in order to better visualize potential health problems.
The act of inserting a scope into one of the body’s entry points in order to visually examine a specific area is known as endoscopy. If the health care provider believes that a specific area of the body may be damaged or infected, a lighted camera will be inserted into the body, allowing for direct observation of the area without invasive surgical procedures. The lighted camera, placed on a flexible tube to better navigate the corridors of the body, is known as the endoscope.
There are multiple types of scopes used for diagnostic procedures such as esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs, examining the esophagus and stomach), colonoscopies (examining the colon), sigmoidoscopies (examining the sigmoid colon and rectum) and enteroscopies (examining the small intestine).