Upper endoscopy lets your doctor examine the lining of the upper part of your gastrointestinal tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach and duodenum (first portion of the small intestine). Your Arizona Gastroenterology physician will use a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope, with its own lens and light source, and will view the images on a video monitor. You might hear your doctor or other medical staff refer to upper endoscopy as an upper GI endoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), or panendoscopy.
This procedure helps your doctor evaluate symptoms of persistent abdominal pain, nasuea, vomiting or difficulty in swallowing. It’s the best test for finding the cause of bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract. It’s more accurate than X-ray films for detecting inflammation, ulcers, and tumors of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
Upper endoscopy is also used to obtain biopsy or small tissue samples. A biopsy helps your doctor distinguish between benign and malignant (cancerous) tissues, though, biopsies are not only used to detect cancer. During the procedure, a sedative is used so that patients feel no discomfort.