An endoscopy is a medical procedure done with an instrument called an endoscope. The endoscope is a think hollow tube, many with a small camera at the end, that is put into the body to look inside, and is sometimes used for certain kinds of surgery.
Looking with an endoscope is different from using imaging tests, like x-rays and CT scans, which can get pictures of the inside the body without putting tools or devices into it.
Depending on the area of the body being looked at, the endoscope may be put in the mouth, anus, or urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the bladder). Sometimes, it’s put through a small incision (cut) made in the skin.
Endoscopies are used to screen for conditions and diagnose diseases.
Find all preparation materials for an endoscopy here.