Endoscopy (en-dahs-kuh-pee) is a medical procedure that uses a tube-like instrument called an endoscope (en-doh-skop). The endoscope is put into the body to look inside, and perform certain surgical procedures.
Looking with an endoscope is different from using imaging tests, like x-rays and CT scans, which can get pictures of the inside the body without putting instruments into it.
There are many different kinds of endoscopes, or “scopes.” Some are hollow and allow the doctor to look right into the body. Most are lighted, and some have a small video camera on the end that puts pictures on a computer screen. Some endoscopes are stiff, while others are flexible. Endoscopes also vary in length. Each type is specially designed for looking at a certain part of the body.
Depending on the area of the body being looked at, the endoscope may be put in through a body opening like the mouth, anus, or urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the bladder). In some cases, the endoscope is put in through a small incision (cut) made in the skin.
Some types of endoscopes and the areas of the body they are used to view
Type of endoscope |
Put in through |
Body part or area(s) looked at |
Name(s) of procedure |
arthroscope |
cuts in the skin |
joints |
arthroscopy |
bronchoscope |
mouth or nose |
trachea (windpipe) and |
bronchoscopy, |
colonoscope |
Anus |
colon and |
colonoscopy, |
cystoscope |
Urethra |
bladder |
cystoscopy, |
enteroscope |
mouth or anus |
small intestine |
enteroscopy |
esophagogastroduodeno-scope |
Mouth |
esophagus (swallowing tube), stomach, and duodenum (first part of small intestine) |
esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), |
hysteroscope |
Vagina |
inside of uterus |
hysteroscopy |
laparoscope |
cut(s) in the abdomen (belly) |
space inside abdomen and pelvis |
laparoscopy, |
laryngoscope |
mouth or nose |
larynx (voice box) |
laryngoscopy |
mediastinoscope |
cut(s) above the sternum (breastbone) |
mediastinum (space between the lungs) |
mediastinoscopy |
sigmoidoscope, |
Anus |
rectum and sigmoid colon (lower part of large intestine) |
sigmoidoscopy, |
thoracoscope |
cut(s) in the chest |
space between lungs and chest wall |
thoracoscopy, |
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