In vivo imaging of intestinal helminths by capsule endoscopy

This review examines the use of digestive endoscopy to visualize intestinal helminths. The infections caused by these parasites are responsible for high levels of morbidity and mortality. These helminths can be visualized using gastroduodenal endoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and colonoscopy. Endoscopic examination of the small bowel is limited by its considerable length and its distance from the mouth and anus. Since capsule endoscopy (CE) was first reported in 2000, it has been established as a noninvasive modality for the investigation of the gastrointestinal tract. CE is used as a first-line tool for imaging various small-bowel diseases, mainly obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and Crohn's disease. Since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved CE in 2001, the indications for its use have expanded widely. For example, CE can be used to visualize the in vivo kinetics of intestinal helminths. If the current trends in technological development continue, CE will become more widely used to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of helminth infections in the near future.