Gastroscopy
When you require a Gastroscopy
If you’re experiencing symptoms that include upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or difficulty breathing, your specialist may recommend a Gastroscopy.
What you need to know
As well as being used for diagnostic purposes, a Gastroscopy can also be used for treatment. A variety of instruments can be passed through the endoscope, so your specialist can treat many abnormalities, with little or no discomfort.
Your doctor will use a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope, which has its own lens and light source, and will view the images on a video monitor. They’ll be able to examine the lining of the upper part of your gastrointestinal tract and obtain a biopsy if necessary, so they can identify the cause of your symptoms.
This procedure is more accurate than x-rays to diagnose a range of conditions. It can also detect early cancer and distinguish between cancerous and non-cancerous conditions.
