Why do an endoscopy?

To screen for cancer: If you are referring to a colonoscopy, which is a lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, then they might find polyps (precancerous growths) or colon cancer. On the other end, there are upper endoscopes (egds) which look at the esophagus and stomach and first part of the small intestine and there could be cancers found there too.

Many reasons!: Everyone should have a colonoscopy, which is one type of endoscopy, at age 50 (sooner if there is a family history suggesting higher risk for colon cancer). Other types of endoscopy can look at different parts of the body, such as the esophagus, stomach, bile ducts, vocal cords, airways, bladder and ureters. These procedures are done if symptoms or other tests suggest a need for evaluation.

Endoscopy: It is a test in which a doctor ( gastroenterologist usually) uses a an endoscope( a flexible tube with a camera attached to it's end) to look inside your stomach , esophagus , colon or any hollow organ.

Scoping you out!: Endoscopy is a general term meaning inserting a lighted scope into you somewhere, usually further specified by a prefix like colonoscopy, ureteroscopy, laryngoscopy which basically says where it goes. Often the docor can not only look inside but also biopsy (take tissue) and do other tests while in there--may require sedation depending on how far in they go!