[Gastrointestinal diseases--the place of endoscopy in examination, treatment and control]

Dyspepsia, defined as discomfort in the upper abdomen after a meal, is the most frequent indication for gastroscopy. Such dyspepsia was earlier considered to be an element of the ulcer disease, Moynihan's disease. Whether examination showed an ulcer or not was of minor importance as long as the treatment was the same. Similar opinions still contribute to a negative attitude towards the need to obtain a more specific diagnosis, especially in young patients where risk of cancer is low. We are of the opinion that dyspepsia is a non-specific symptom of several different diseases, and that curative therapy is often available today provided the diagnosis is correct. It is therefore necessary to make an active effort to diagnose the cause of the dyspepsia, also in younger persons. In practice, this means that there are many different indications for gastroscopy. We try, however, to practice a restrictive policy with respect to control gastroscopy.