What Diseases Can Be Detected by an Endoscopy?

Medically reviewed by Kevin Riess, MD

An endoscopy exam uses a tool called an endoscope—a long, flexible tube with a tiny camera attached to the end. Medical experts use this to get an inside look at your digestive tract, airways, and certain organs. Many diseases can be detected by an endoscopy, and some types can help identify cancer early.

Endoscopies are a critical part of the diagnosis process for many conditions. They provide a useful, intimate visual perspective unlike any other imaging technology.

Different Types of Endoscopies

Endoscopies are inserted into the mouth, nose, urethra, or anus and guided to the area of concern. There, they allow your provider to see inside your body. Most types of endoscopies are named for the area they evaluate.

These include –

• Bronchoscopy to examine the lungs
• Colonoscopy to provide an inside look at the colon and rectum
• Cystoscopy to help visualize the interior of the bladder and urethra (tube that transports urine from the bladder to outside of the body)
• Laryngoscopy to view structures inside the throat, including your voice box and vocal cords
• Sigmoidoscopy to visualize the rectum and the lower part of the large intestine
• Upper endoscopy (also known as an upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy or esophagogastroduodenoscopy) gives a view of your upper digestive tract

What to Expect During an Endoscopy

No preparation is necessary for some endoscopy procedures. You simply show up. Others require you to watch what you eat or drink in the hours leading up to your procedure. For example, you must empty your bowels with prescription or over-the-counter laxatives before a colonoscopy.

Whatever procedure you have scheduled, talk with your provider beforehand to make sure you correctly prepare for your endoscopy. Once you arrive for your endoscopy, expect the following –

• Your provider gives you medication. This helps you relax and not feel pain. Sometimes, you may receive general anesthesia to sleep through the procedure.
• You may receive a mouth guard. For endoscopies that start in your mouth, your provider may insert a mouth guard to help protect against tooth damage during the procedure.
• You’ll likely return home quickly. Most endoscopic procedures are outpatient, allowing you to return home the same day. Some take as little as 15 minutes.

Afterward, you should feel fine, though you may have a sore throat or other minor discomfort. Plan to have a loved one drive you home, as the medication or anesthesia takes a while to wear off.

5 Diseases Endoscopy Can Help Detect

Endoscopy can help detect many diseases. Here are a few.

1. Acid Reflux

Acid reflux causes the contents of your stomach to backwash from the stomach back into the esophagus. Common symptoms include heartburn or indigestion. When acid reflux becomes a chronic problem, it’s gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases states that approximately 20% of Americans experience GERD.

Most of the time, your provider can diagnose acid reflux based on your symptoms. An upper GI endoscopy may be necessary if you present with –

• Anorexia
• Bleeding inside the digestive system
• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or painful swallowing (odynophagia)
• Poor response to common acid-reducing treatment (proton pump inhibitors)
• Weight loss that is significant and unexpected

2. Cancer

Endoscopes are used to diagnose various cancers, including –

• Colorectal cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Stomach cancer

To diagnose cancer, the provider removes a small tissue sample for laboratory testing during the endoscopic exam. During a colonoscopy, a gastroenterology provider can remove polyps—growths that can become cancerous or spread to other parts of the body—at the same time.

3. Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that damages the small intestine when you eat gluten (a type of protein found in wheat, rye, and barley). Over time, it can result in malnutrition and anemia, weakened bones, and other dangerous complications.

Celiac disease symptoms mimic those of other conditions, so it's not always possible to make a definitive diagnosis using symptoms alone. Your provider may order additional tests, including endoscopy, to confirm the presence of celiac disease.

During your endoscopy, your provider may examine the upper part of your small intestine for signs of celiac damage and remove a small tissue sample for biopsy. If your provider removes tissue, a laboratory expert will then examine it to confirm a diagnosis of celiac disease.

4. Inflammation

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comes in multiple forms. The two main types are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

No matter what type you have, IBD causes your body to attack normal, healthy cells in the intestines. This causes inflammation or swelling and results in symptoms such as –

• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Unexplained weight loss

Diagnosing IBD typically involves a physical exam, blood tests, and more. You may also undergo multiple endoscopies to evaluate different parts of your GI tract and determine the cause of your symptoms.

5. Ulcers

Trauma, infection, and inflammation can lead to ulcers, sores that form in various areas of the body. Stomach ulcers can lead to pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and other unwanted symptoms.

Stool and blood tests, along with a physical exam, help guide providers toward a diagnosis. An endoscopy helps diagnose ulcers and determine the root cause and helps providers create a treatment plan that offers quick and lasting relief.