Endoscopy

An

Endoscopist

performs an Endoscopy. This involves examining the inside of the body with an endoscope, a lighted, flexible instrument that has a small camera on the tip. There are many types of endoscopes, and endoscopy, named according to the organs or areas they are used to examine (e.g.

arthroscopy

examines joints;

bronchoscopy

examines the lungs;

cystoscopy

examines the bladder and urethra;

laparoscopy

may examine the ovaries, appendix or other abdominal organs;

colonoscopy

examines the bowel). An endoscope is passed through a natural body opening (e.g. mouth) or a small incision. Small instruments can be inserted through an endoscope and used to take samples of tissues for analysis (biopsy), to remove material (e.g. removing polyps during a colonoscopy), or to carry out a surgical procedure.