Pediatric capsule endoscopy

This first decade of capsule endoscopy (CE) has expanded our knowledge of small bowel disorders, pointed the way to lesions that could not be appreciated clinically or radiologically, and helped to target and monitor therapy. Although insurance companies have often dictated that upper and lower endoscopy and sometimes even radiographic procedures precede CE, in many instances, it makes more clinical sense to reverse that paradigm, and instead screen the gastrointestinal tract using a less invasive, less expensive, anesthesia-free, radiation-free miniaturized camera that can assist diagnosis and management. Although retention and incomplete visualization of the intestine still limit the full effectiveness of CE, further studies and development promise to expand CE's utility throughout the gastrointestinal tract for a variety of indications.