A pill camera for the small intestine is also known as capsule endoscopy. It involves a tiny camera encased in a smooth shell, which the patient swallows. As the camera passes through the digestive tract, it takes pictures of the esophagus, stomach and small intestine, transmitting thousands of pictures to a recording device.
This is a diagnostic procedure that allows a gastroenterologist to fully examine the middle portions of the gastrointestinal tract, once seemingly unreachable to cameras and scopes. This can be used to monitor and diagnose celiac disease or screen for pre-cancerous colorectal growths.
A patient can go about their business while carrying a recording device. After eight to 12 hours, the test will complete and the camera will pass with a bowel movement.
