How can lesions identified by capsule endoscopy be further defined before performing surgery?
- Capsule endoscopy often does not permit an ideal view of lesions because the capsule tumbles through the small bowel naturally by peristalsis without any opportunity to adjust position to obtain a better view.
- Thus lesions may be seen peripherally on only one videophotograph.
- Capsule endoscopy also does not permit cleaning the photographic lens or clearing the endoscopic field to improve visualization.
- Capsule endoscopy also does not permit biopsy or brushing of lesions for cytologic or pathologic analysis.
- It is solely diagnostic and not therapeutic. Single-balloon or double-balloon enteroscopy can better view small intestinal lesions identified by capsule endoscopy.
- Lesions can be biopsied or ablated at double-balloon enteroscopy.
