A noninvasive diagnostic test where a patient swallows a small capsule containing a miniature camera, transmitter, and light.

Mechanism:

Capsule travels naturally through the stomach, small intestine, colon, and rectum

Takes thousands of images → transmitted wirelessly to an external recorder worn on the body

Images are processed into a video for physician review

Types of Video Capsules

Differ by: number of cameras, image resolution, battery life, recording time, data transmission

Some capsules store data internally (must be retrieved after passing), but most modern ones transmit data externally

Indications / Uses

Diagnostic tool when conventional endoscopy/colonoscopy is inconclusive

Helps evaluate:

Crohn’s disease (diagnosis & monitoring)

Other IBDs (e.g., ulcerative colitis)

Gastrointestinal bleeding (obscure/mid-GI sources)

Celiac disease (mucosal assessment)

Colon polyps / colorectal cancer

Unexplained anemia or weight loss

Useful for patients unable to tolerate sedation or colonoscopy

Advantages

Noninvasive, painless, outpatient

Visualizes the entire small intestine (difficult with regular endoscopy)

No anesthesia required

Limitations / Risks

Capsule retention (rare; more likely in strictures/narrowing)

Cannot take biopsies or perform therapeutic interventions

Dependent on battery life and image quality