Endoscopy is a procedure that allows a doctor to view the inside of a person’s body. Doctors use it to diagnose diseases in the following parts of the body:

• Esophagus
• Stomach
• Colon
• Ears
• Nose
• Throat
• Heart
• Urinary tract
• Joints
• Abdomen

Types of endoscopy

The most common types of endoscopy are listed below.

Name of procedure	Name of tool	Area or organ viewed	How endoscope reaches target area
Anoscopy	Anoscope	Anus and/or rectum	Inserted through the anus
Arthroscopy	Arthroscope	Joints	Inserted through a small incision over the joint
Bronchoscopy	Bronchoscope	Trachea, or windpipe, and the lungs	Inserted through the mouth
Colonoscopy	Colonoscope	Entire length of the colon and large intestine	Inserted through the anus
Colposcopy	Colposcope	Vagina and cervix	Placed at the vagina’s opening after a tool called a speculum dilates the vagina. It is not inserted in the body.
Cystoscopy	Cystoscope	Inside of the bladder	Inserted through the urethra
Esophagoscopy	Esophagoscope	Esophagus	Inserted through the mouth
Gastroscopy	Gastroscope	Stomach and duodenum, which is the beginning of the small intestine	Inserted through the mouth
Laparoscopy	Laparoscope	Stomach, liver, or other abdominal organs, including female reproductive organs, including the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes	Inserted through a small, surgical opening in the abdomen
Laryngoscopy	Laryngoscope	Larynx, or voice box	Inserted through the mouth
Neuroendoscopy	Neuroendoscope	Areas of the brain	Inserted through a small incision in the skull
Proctoscopy	Proctoscope	Rectum and sigmoid colon, which is the bottom part of the colon	Inserted through the anus
Sigmoidoscopy	Sigmoidoscope	Sigmoid colon	Inserted through the anus
Thoracoscopy	Thoracoscope	Pleura, which are the 2 membranes covering the lungs and lining the chest cavity, and structures covering the heart	Inserted through a small surgical opening in chest

Doctors who do an endoscopy go through extensive training to learn these procedures. They also are continually learning about new developments in technology.

What is an endoscope?

During an endoscopy, the doctor inserts a tool called an endoscope into a person’s body. Most endoscopes are thin tubes with a powerful light and tiny camera at the end.

The endoscope’s length and flexibility depend on the part of the body the doctor needs to see.

For example, a straight endoscope helps a doctor look at joints. Meanwhile, a flexible one helps a doctor view the inside of the colon.

Other tools used during an endoscopy

Typically, an endoscope has a channel through which the doctor can insert tools. These tools collect tissue or provide treatment.

Types of tools include:

• Flexible forceps. These tong-like tools take a tissue sample.
• Biopsy forceps. These remove a tissue sample or a suspicious growth.
• Cytology brushes. These take cell samples.
• Suture removal forceps. These remove stitches inside the body