title: Video capsule endoscopy: perspectives of a revolutionary technique.
abstract: Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) was launched in 2000 and has revolutionized direct endoscopic imaging of the gut. VCE is now a first-line procedure for exploring the small bowel in cases of obscure digestive bleeding and is also indicated in some patients with Crohn's disease, celiac disease, and polyposis syndrome. A video capsule has also been designed for visualizing the esophagus in order to detect Barrett's esophagus or esophageal varices. Different capsules are now available and differ with regard to dimensions, image acquisition rate, battery life, field of view, and possible optical enhancements. More recently, the use of VCE has been extended to exploring the colon. Within the last 5 years, tremendous developments have been made toward increasing the capabilities of the colon capsule. Although colon capsule cannot be proposed as a first-line colorectal cancer screening procedure, colon capsule may be used in patients with incomplete colonoscopy or in patients who are unwilling to undergo colonoscopy. In the near future, new technological developments will improve the diagnostic yield of VCE and broaden its therapeutic capabilities.
authors.affiliation: Simon Bouchard, Andre Van Gossum, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatopancreatology and Digestive Oncology, Erasme Hospital, ULB, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bouchard
authors.affiliation: Simon Bouchard, Andre Van Gossum, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatopancreatology and Digestive Oncology, Erasme Hospital, ULB, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: Simon Bouchard, Andre Van Gossum, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatopancreatology and Digestive Oncology, Erasme Hospital, ULB, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Gossum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053705:Capsule Endoscopes; D053704:Capsule Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology*; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004867:Equipment Design; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis
keywords: Colon; Esophagus; Obscure digestive bleeding; Polyp; Small bowel; Video capsule endoscopy