Wireless Capsule Endoscopy for Detecting Esophageal Disease?

Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE), widely used to evaluate patients with obscure GI blood loss, has revolutionized small bowel endoscopy. However, the value of WCE has yet to be established for intraluminal visualization of other areas of the GI tract that commonly are assessed by conventional endoscopy. In this pilot study, researchers assessed the feasibility of using a novel, double-headed esophageal capsule (administered while the patient is supine to slow transit time) to screen for esophageal mucosal disease.

Each of 17 patients with suspected esophageal disorders ingested a capsule. Standard upper endoscopy was subsequently performed and used as the gold standard; the two endoscopists were blinded to the findings of the parallel test. …