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Capsule Endoscopy
June 30, 2008 |
Putting a camera inside the human body is something that used to be a concept
only Hollywood could create. But now the sci-fi scene is closer to reality than
ever before thanks to one tiny pill.
"It’s a fascinating new technology that really gives us an ability to visualize
part of the gastrointestinal tract that we never could get to before,” says Dr.
Bradley Trope, a gastroenterologist with Lee Memorial Health System. The Capsule
Endoscopy or Pill-Cam is a screening test that allows physicians to see the
inside of the small bowel.
Dr. Trope says, “It entails swallowing an approximately vitamin sized pill that
tumbles through the small bowel foaming and beaming images.” The digestible
camera beams images to censors that the patient wears on the outside of their
body. “The images are then stored in a recorder that’s worn on a belt and later
downloaded onto a computer and watched.”
The Pill-Cam is far more than just cool technology. It can identify and localize
tumors and bleeding. That’s a process that would have likely required
exploratory surgery before now. Dr. Trope says, “The novelty of the procedure
and the technology is fascinating but it’s the benefit to patients and the
diagnostic value that is the most exciting thing.”
The Pill-Cam is best for patients who’ve undergone a variety of tests but still
have unexplained iron deficiency, anemia or bleeding. Each tiny pill costs about
$500 and is usually covered by insurance. The Pill-Cam is completely digestible
and passes through the body in a matter of hours. |
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