An overview of the various tests and procedures used to diagnose digestive disorders, including endoscopy, stool tests, blood tests, and imaging studies such as X-rays and CT scans.
Signs and Symptoms of Digestive Disorders: Understanding the different types of gastrointestinal disorders, their common signs and symptoms, and how they affect the body can help you narrow down potential diagnoses and order the right diagnostic tests.
Diagnostic Tests Overview: A broad overview of the different types of diagnostic tests used to evaluate and diagnose digestive disorders, including endoscopy, imaging studies, scintigraphy, blood tests, and fecal tests.
Types of Endoscopy: Understanding the different types of endoscopy, such as upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy, the use of cameras and other tools to examine the digestive tract, and the preparation necessary for these tests.
Radiography: The different types of imaging studies, including X-rays and CT scans, used to visualize the digestive tract and diagnose disorders.
Scintigraphy: An overview of nuclear medicine scans, which use radioactive material to diagnose digestive disorders.
Laboratory Testing: An overview of the different types of blood and fecal tests used to evaluate digestive disorders, including stool cultures and tests for celiac disease.
Esophageal Disease: An overview of common disorders affecting the esophagus, such as reflux and achalasia, and diagnostic testing associated with these conditions.
Gastric Disease: An overview of common disorders affecting the stomach, such as gastritis and peptic ulcers, and diagnostic testing associated with these conditions.
Small Intestinal Disease: An overview of common disorders affecting the small intestine, such as celiac disease and Crohn's disease, and diagnostic testing associated with these conditions.
Colonic Disease: An overview of common disorders affecting the colon, such as diverticulitis and inflammatory bowel disease, and diagnostic testing associated with these conditions.
Liver Disease: An overview of common disorders affecting the liver, such as hepatitis and cirrhosis, and diagnostic testing associated with these conditions.
Biliary Disease: An overview of common disorders affecting the bile ducts, such as gallstones and cholangitis, and diagnostic testing associated with these conditions.
Pancreatic Disorders: An overview of common disorders affecting the pancreas, such as acute and chronic pancreatitis, and diagnostic testing associated with these conditions.
Colonoscopy Preparation: Detailed instructions on the specific steps that need to be taken to prepare for a colonoscopy.
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Capsule Endoscopy: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Manometry: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Biopsy: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Intestinal Permeability Testing: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Genetic Testing: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Motility Studies: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Obtaining Samples: Explanation of how physicians obtain samples for diagnostic testing.
Endoscopic Ultrasonography: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
pH Monitoring: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Magnetic Resonance Enterography: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Enteroscopy: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Ultrasound: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
CT Enterography: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Sigmoidoscopy: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Fecal Occult Blood Test: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Lactulose Breath Test: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Stool Fat Test: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Hydrogen Breath Test: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Upper Endoscopy: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Gastric Emptying Study: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
MRCP: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Per Oral Cholangioscopy: Explanation of the procedure, why it’s ordered, and how it’s done.
Biologics: Explanation of how doctors use biologics to treat digestive disorders.
Endoscopy: A minimally invasive procedure that allows a gastroenterologist to look inside the digestive tract using a thin, long tube with a camera on the end. Endoscopy can help diagnose a range of digestive disorders, including ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer.
Colonoscopy: An endoscopic procedure that examines the large intestine (colon) for abnormalities, such as polyps or cancer. A colonoscopy is used to screen for colon cancer and can also help diagnose inflammatory bowel disease or other conditions causing abdominal pain, rectal bleeding or changes in bowel habits.
Biopsy: A procedure where a small amount of tissue is removed from the digestive tract for examination under a microscope. A biopsy can help diagnose and stage certain digestive disorders, such as gastric cancer, celiac disease or H. pylori infection.
Imaging tests: Such as CT scan, MRI, ultrasound or X-ray, use advanced imaging technology to create images of the digestive tract and surrounding organs. These tests can help detect tumors, inflammation and structural abnormalities.
Fecal occult blood test: A test that looks for hidden blood in stool samples that cannot be seen with the naked eye. The presence of blood can indicate digestive disorders, such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease or diverticulitis.
Esophageal manometry: A test that measures the strength and coordination of the muscles in the esophagus, which is the muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. It can help diagnose disorders of swallowing or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
pH monitoring: A test that measures the acidity (pH) levels in the esophagus over time to diagnose GERD or other conditions causing acid reflux.
Breath tests: Used to diagnose lactose intolerance, fructose malabsorption or bacterial overgrowth in the intestine, such as SIBO. Breath tests typically require the patient to consume a drink or food that contains a specialized sugar or substrate, and then measure the gases that are produced in the breath.
Blood tests: Used to measure various enzymes, hormones or antibodies in the blood that can indicate the presence of digestive disorders or inflammation. Common examples include liver function tests, C-reactive protein or fecal calprotectin.
It's important to keep in mind that not all of these tests are necessary or appropriate for every patient or particular condition: The choice of diagnostic test will depend on a range of factors, including the patient's symptoms, medical history, lifestyle and risk factors. Only your doctor can determine which tests are appropriate for your particular case.