WEDNESDAY, Dec. 01, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- It may be a tough pill to swallow for some, but it could also save
lives. A miniature color video camera encased in a pill, just approved
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, allows doctors to diagnose
and evaluate diseases of the esophagus, at least one of which could
signal cancer.
The "PillCam ESO" can aid in the diagnosis of Barrett's Esophagus, a
pre-cancerous condition, according to the device's manufacturer,
InScope. The condition afflicts 5 percent to 15 percent of the roughly
19 million Americans who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
About 700,000 Americans have Barrett's Esophagus, which increases a
person's risk of developing esophageal cancer, InScope said in a
statement.
Every year, millions of Americans undergo what's called an
endoscopy, which allows doctors to inspect the esophagus using a long,
flexible tube that's inserted into the mouth. The PillCam, its maker
says, requires no sedation and had accuracy rates in clinical trials
that were comparable to the more invasive endoscopy.
After the patient swallows a pill the size of a large vitamin, the
camera glides down the esophagus, taking some 2,600 pictures (about 14
per second). After about 20 minutes, the doctor should have enough
images transmitted to a small recording device to make a definitive
diagnosis, InScope said.
To learn more about Barrett's Esophagus, visit the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
