Capsule endoscopy in patients with chronic abdominal pain.
Dig Liver Dis
; 38(9): 696-8, 2006 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-16920049
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Patients with chronic abdominal pain consult gastroenterologists frequently, requiring a large number of examinations.AIM:
To assess the diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy in patients with chronic abdominal pain of unknown origin and negative diagnostic work-up. PATIENTS From January 2002 to September 2004, 16 patients (10 female; mean age 42.7 years) who complained of chronic abdominal pain were referred to our unit for capsule endoscopy.METHODS:
Chronic abdominal pain was defined as continuous or almost continuous, for at least 3 months and without criteria for other gastrointestinal disorders. All patients had a previous diagnostic work-up including abdominal ultrasonography, oesophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy and small bowel follow through, performed within 2 months.RESULTS:
Capsule endoscopy was normal in 12 patients (75%). Small bowel abnormalities were found in three patients, but were considered irrelevant. In one patient (6.3%), capsule endoscopy revealed ileal erosions and inflammation and was retained in a stricture undetected by radiology. This patient underwent elective surgery which revealed an ileal carcinoid neoplasm.CONCLUSIONS:
Capsule endoscopy identified a specific cause of chronic abdominal pain in only one patient. Capsule endoscopy is a safe procedure but does not seem to play an important role in the evaluation of patients with chronic abdominal pain of unknown origin.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Abdominal Pain
/
Capsule Endoscopy
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Dig Liver Dis
Journal subject:
GASTROENTEROLOGIA
Year:
2006
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy