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Endoscopy refers to the technique of visually assessing an internal organ using a camera-tipped narrow instrument. While it is a general term that can be used for any internal organ, it is most commonly associated with assessment of the gut (gastrointestinal tract). In endoscopy of the gut, a flexible tube which carries a powerful camera and light source at its tip is passed through a natural body orifice to examine the internal aspect of the stomach, intestine or colon.
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Examining the stomach is also called "gastroscopy" and involves passing the endoscopy through the mouth into the stomach. It is commonly used to look for gastric ulcers, gastritis and stomach cancer among other things.
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Examining the small bowel is called “enteroscopy”. This involves passing the endoscope into the small bowel to examine the internal lining of the small bowel but is not commonly performed as the indications for this investigation are few.
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Examining the colon is called "colonoscopy". This involves passing the endoscope through the anus to examine the entire length of colon. It is commonly used to look for polyps and colorectal cancer.
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