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Swallowing Pill-Sized Video Camera Gives Gastroenterologists A New Tool for Diagnosing and Evaluating Esophagus Diseases
11/30/2005 3:46:43 PM

OAK BROOK, Ill., Nov 30, 2005 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) is encouraged to see esophageal disease brought to national attention. The Society congratulates Katie Couric and The Today Show for highlighting this important health issue and the available methods for screening and diagnosis of diseases including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or chronic heartburn, esophagitis and Barrett's Esophagus (BE), a pre-cancerous condition.

ASGE's member physicians are committed to preventing esophageal cancer by screening those patients who are most at risk; those who have chronic reflux disease, are male and are over 50. According to the ASGE, 10-12% of those with chronic reflux disease (GERD) will develop BE. It is about twice as common in men as in women, and much more common in Caucasian males than in men of other races.

Patients can now swallow pill-sized, disposable cameras to help gastroenterologists diagnose and evaluate diseases of the esophagus, or swallowing tube. This diagnostic tool is a further modification of capsule endoscopy, which has been used clinically since late 2001 to examine the small intestines.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the first version of the esophageal device (PillCam(TM) ESO, manufactured by Given Imaging, Israel and marketed by InScope, a division of Ethicon Endo-Surgery, a Johnson & Johnson company, Cincinnati) on November 29, 2004.

This esophageal capsule endoscope is a smooth plastic capsule about the size of a large vitamin pill that has tiny video cameras at each end. A patient lies on his or her back and swallows the pill with water. The pill then glides down the esophagus taking about 2,600 color pictures, which are transmitted to a recording device worn by the patient. After 20 minutes, the doctor has enough video images to make a careful evaluation and even make a diagnosis. The disposable capsule is passed naturally, usually within 24 hours.

The esophageal capsule is used to screen patients with suspected esophageal diseases such as GERD and Barrett's esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition. However, it is important to note that the capsule endoscope is not to be used for patients who have swallowing difficulties, who wear a pacemaker or who have or are suspected of having gastrointestinal obstruction, strictures or fistulas in their digestive tract.

Traditional endoscopy uses a long, thin flexible tube, called an endoscope, to go through the sedated patient's mouth and down the throat into the esophagus. The endoscope has a tiny camera with a light, so the physician can view close-up images of the esophagus lining. The tube also contains cables for control and channels that permit the passage of devices to biopsy (sample) tissue for examination.

It is expected that capsule endoscopy will be used together with traditional endoscopy in the case management of esophageal diseases. Blair Lewis, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, The Mount Sinai Medical Center, NY, stated that the esophageal capsule endoscope could be used as a screening device to determine if a patient was "at risk" for cancer, while traditional endoscopy could be used to gather tissue or remove polyps. If the patient was "at risk" for cancer, further surveillance by traditional endoscopy with tissue biopsies would be done every three years.

"There were about 7,000 new cases of cancer of the esophagus in the United States in 2004, which is small in comparison to the cases of colon, prostate and lung cancer," stated Dr. Lewis. "However, while the incidences of the other cancers are dropping, esophagus cancer, on a per capita basis, is growing in numbers."

According to Robert Hawes, MD, president of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and professor of medicine at the MUSC Digestive Disease Center, in Charleston, South Carolina, "The incidence of esophageal cancer is increasing faster than any other malignancy in the U.S. and much of it has to do with the fact that only 5-10 percent of patients suffering from chronic GERD actually get screened for pre-cancerous conditions."

Here are some statistics to put esophageal diseases in perspective. There are 60 million people in the U.S. who experience acid indigestion at least once per month, and some studies suggest there are 15 million daily sufferers who take over-the-counter or prescription remedies. Annually, 19 million people will be diagnosed with GERD.

Of the 10 million Americans who are considered at risk for cancer in the U.S., about one million (10%) will develop Barrett's esophagus, a pre-cancer condition. And, since Barrett's esophagus is twice as common in men as women, deaths due to cancer of the esophagus are higher among men. About 4% of all male deaths due to all types of cancer last year were attributed to cancer of the esophagus.

"While endoscopy has been the gold standard for detecting digestive tract abnormalities," Dr. Hawes said, "many patients have been reluctant to go through the procedure due to the time commitment involved, and as a result, do not get checked regularly. Capsule endoscopy could present a more attractive solution to these patients, and eventually lead to increased rates of compliance."

Dr. Lewis stated that the goal of gastroenterologists is to get more adults over 50 screened for pre-cancer conditions of the esophagus that could lead to cancer and need to be monitored. "We hope this new patient-friendly, less intimidating capsule endoscopy procedure will increase the numbers of those willing to be screened, thus reducing the risk of cancer of the esophagus."

For more information, please visit the ASGE website at http://www.askasge.org or call 1-866-305-ASGE.

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Oak Brook, IL
About ASGE: Patient Information:
http://www.asge.org http://www.askasge.org
630-573-0600 866-305-ASGE


The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), founded in 1941, is the preeminent professional organization dedicated to advancing the practice of Endoscopy. ASGE, with more than 8,500 physician members worldwide, promotes the highest standards for endoscopic training and practice, fosters endoscopic research, recognizes distinguished contributions to Endoscopy, and is the foremost resource for endoscopic education.

Contact: Barbara Connell

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SOURCE American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

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