Vascular, polypoid, and other lesions of the small bowel
1Endoscopy Center, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan.
Abstract:
Recent developments in enteroscopy have been changing the diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for diseases of the small bowel. In particular, double-balloon endoscopy has enabled the endoscopic treatment of small-bowel diseases. A majority of vascular lesions can now be treated endoscopically. The presence or absence of arterial components provides important information for selecting endoscopic treatments. In the case of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, gastrointestinal screening of the small bowel should be started from childhood, and when polyps develop they should be managed by endoscopic resection as opposed to laparotomy. For familial adenomatous polyposis, duodenal and ampullary cancers are major causes of death after prophylactic colectomy. Intensive surveillance and treatment of such patients may lead to reduction of mortality related to duodenal cancer. The prognosis of malignant tumours of the small bowel was previously poor because early diagnosis was impossible. The new technologies have facilitated the diagnosis of these tumours, and improvements in the prognosis can be expected.
Related Concept Videos
Diverticular Disease of the Colon
Histology of the Small Intestine
The intestinal lining features transverse folds called circular folds, each housing fingerlike projections known as intestinal villi. These villi are covered by a layer of simple columnar epithelium, also referred to as...
Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Introduction
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
