Magnetically guided gastric capsule endoscopy: a review and new developments

Since 2001, capsule endoscopy has been the primary test used to diagnose small-intestinal diseases. However, video capsule endoscopy of the stomach was considered impractical because visualizing the entire stomach was deemed impossible and would require a steerable capsule. Magnetically controlled gastric capsule endoscopy has been increasingly used for the diagnosis of gastric diseases, with significant developments in China. This noninvasive, hygienic, and comfortable method has gained popularity as an alternative to traditional electronic gastroscopy owing to its disposable nature and recent hardware upgrades (resolution, brightness, and field of view). Important steps forward with artificial intelligence and robots allow for the automated detection and characterization of gastric lesions. As it was restricted in China, questions have been raised about its cost-effectiveness worldwide, particularly in countries where early gastric cancer is not a priority. In this paper, I review the initial trials with this innovative capsule and the important technical updates in the last 5 years: robots for capsule guidance and artificial intelligence for the detection and characterization of gastric lesions.