Endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure in which a flexible tube with a lighted camera on the end is inserted into the mouth or nose and used to examine parts of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract including linings, tissues, and organs. Endoscopy is used to diagnose and sometimes treat conditions that affect the upper part of the digestive system. Here are some of the diseases that can be detected by an endoscopy:

• Cancer and tumors: Endoscopy can help doctors find abnormal lumps, masses, or ulcerations in the upper GI tract and take a small amount of tissue in what’s called a biopsy. The tissue can be examined to determine if it’s non-cancerous or cancerous.

• Esophageal varices: Enlarged veins in the walls of the esophagus can burst and bleed, causing a person to vomit blood and have bloody or black, tarry stools. The bleeding caused by esophageal varices, which are often associated with liver disease, can be life-threatening.

• Ulcers: Inflammation in the upper GI tract, which is commonly caused by bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, can lead to ulcers.

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Reflux is due to stomach acid rising up to the esophagus where it can cause pain in the chest (sometimes called heartburn) and inflammation that your specialist can see when you have a gastroscopy.

• Esophageal stricture: Narrowing of the esophagus can be caused by GERD, inflammation, or scarring from radiation therapy or surgery.

• Celiac disease: This is a condition in which the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged when it is exposed to even small amounts of gluten – a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and oats. Endoscopy can be used to diagnose celiac disease by taking tiny samples (biopsies) from the small bowel and sending them to the lab for analysis to confirm if you have the disease.

• Liver diseases: Endoscopy can detect many types of liver diseases such as cirrhosis, esophageal varices, and portal hypertension.

It is important to note that many GI conditions share the same type of symptoms, so the best way to truly diagnose a GI problem is to get a much closer look.