What is Panendoscopy

EsophagoGastroDuodenoscopy

What is an EGD (Panendoscopy)?

A panendoscope is a long, flexible tube that is thinner than most food you swallow. It is passed through the mouth and back of the throat into the upper digestive tract and allows the physician to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (the first portion of the small intestine).

Abnormalities suspected by X-ray can be confirmed and others may be detected which are too small to be seen on X-ray.  If the doctor sees a suspicious are, he can pass an instrument through the endoscope and take a small piece of tissue (a "biopsy") for examination in the laboratory.  Biopsies are taken for many reasons and do not necessarily imply cancer.

Other instruments can also be passed through the endoscope without causing discomfort, including a small brush to wipe cells from a suspicious are for examination in the laboratory (a form of "pap test" or cytology) and a wire loop (snare) to remove polyps (abnormal, usually benign growths of tissue).