| Theme |
Update of Endoscopy for Small Intestine |
| Title |
Status of Radiography of Small Intestine |
| Author |
Takashi Nagahama |
Department of Gastroenterology, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital |
| Author |
Takehiko Seki |
Department of Gastroenterology, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital |
| Author |
Ikuhito Hirai |
Department of Gastroenterology, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital |
| Author |
Toshiyuki Matsui |
Department of Gastroenterology, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
Radiography of the small intestine requires physicians to be adequately skilled in procedural and image reading techniques. However, it is a less invasive and simpler examination method that provides for excellent objective evaluation. At our department, double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) proved to be an excellent method for the differential diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease, including microscopic lesions such as nonspecific multiple ulcers of the small intestine, NSAID-induced enteritis, and intestinal tuberculosis. In patients in whom difficulty was encountered with the insertion of the enteroscope, such as those with stenosis of the small intestine or postoperative accretion, however, the range of observation by DBE was restricted, and radiography of the small intestine proved to be more useful for the diagnosis of Crohn's disease than DBE. In the diagnosis of tumors of the small intestine, DBE can be used for tumor biopsy to obtain histological support for the diagnosis. The combined use of radiography of the small intestine and DBE may allow accurate diagnosis and, therefore, appropriate early treatment of small bowel disease. |