Endoscopic Procedures:
Endoscopic procedures consist of putting a flexible tube down a body orifice to see what is there and to sample cells and tissues. The procedures are not difficult to perform, but may take some preparation and time. There is some discomfort for the patient which can be addressed with sedatives. The types of procedures and areas viewed include:
| Procedure | Application
| | Colonoscopy | Lower gastrointestinal tract to just past the ileocecal valve
| | Sigmoidoscopy | Lower gastrointestinal tract to the sigmoid flexure
| | Cystoscopy | Urinary bladder
| | Upper GI endoscopy | Upper gastrointestinal tract to the duodenum
| | Bronchoscopy | Lower respiratory tract to major bronchi
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These procedures may be applied to selected populations at risk for malignancy, particularly in the case of colonoscopy, where a small lesion is more likely to be found.
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