Wireless Capsule Endoscopy – Uses Beyond GI Bleeding?

• Published in: Endoscopy
• Main Authors: McConville, P, Cash, WJ, Watson, RGP, Collins, JS
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: 18.12.2006
• ISSN: 0013-726X; 1438-8812
• DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-956918

Category: Small Intestine Aims: We present the diagnostic yields achieved for each indication where WCE was performed in our unit. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 90 consecutive studies from April 2003 to October 2005. Data was obtained from referral letters and WCE reports. Results: 90 studies were performed on 89 patients; 46 were male. The median age was 52.5. The clinical indications for WCE were: obscure GI bleeding 50 (56%), malabsorption 10 (11%), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) 11 (12%), tumour 10 (11%), other 9 (10%). WCE was diagnostic in 48 studies (53%). In overt GI bleeding diagnosis was made in 13/23 studies (57%) while in covert GI bleeding the diagnostic yield was 12/27 studies (44%). In the 11 cases referred to investigate IBD diagnosis was confirmed in 4 (36%). 9 of the 10 (90%) cases referred for investigation of malabsorption had a positive study confirming enteropathy. Of the 10 cases referred with suspected tumour 6 were positive (60%). Conclusions: WCE has a higher yield with overt than covert GI bleeding. The diagnostic yield in cases of suspected malabsorption and tumour in our group were higher than those referred for investigation of GI bleeding. This has not been previously reported.