Screening means testing normal people or early stages of a disease before the symptoms and signs of a disease are obviously manifest. GIT screening is minimally invasive and focuses on the digestive system and its disorders.
What are the indications for GIT screening?
- Dysphagia- difficulty swallowing
- Odynophagia - painful swallowing
- Persistent dyspepsia in patients over the age of 45 years
- Heartburn and chronic acid reflux - this can lead to a precancerous lesion called Barrett's esophagus
- Chest and abdominal pain
- Persistent nausea and vomiting
- Severe indigestion
- Hematemesis- vomiting blood.
- Melena stool- blood in the stool (indicating internal GI bleeding)
- Unexplained anemia (low blood count)
- IBD -Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
What are the common diseases diagnosed by Screening?
- Gastroesophageal reflux
- Esophagitis (and its complications)
- Esophageal varices
- Esophageal cancer
- Gastric and duodenal ulcer
- Gastric cancer
- Coeliac disease
- Swallowed objects
- Malabsorption disorders
- Motility disorders
What are the methods used for Screening?
- Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract Contrast studies
- Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) Series
- Upper Endoscopy/ Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD/OGD).
What are the advantages of GIT screening?
GIT screening allows for:-
- Early detection of inflammation, ulcers, or tumors.
- Early diagnosis of cancer and determining whether a growth is benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
- Biopsies to be obtained which helps in the diagnosis of cancers or inflammatory lesions.
- Small instruments to be passed through the endoscope that can stretch narrowed areas (strictures), or remove swallowed objects (such as coins or pins).
- Bleeding from ulcers or vessels to be treated by a number of endoscopic techniques.
- Endoscopic removal of early tumors of the esophagus or stomach.