EGD
The upper GI endoscopy, known as an EGD, is extremely valuable in diagnosing and treating many gastrointestinal problems. The endoscope is gently inserted into the mouth and slowly moves down into the esophagus, stomach and the intestines. This upper gastrointestinal endoscopy can help find inflammation in the esophagus and stomach, or diagnose ulcers and tumors. It can also be used to determine the cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, difficulty swallowing, pain, or frequent indigestion.
An EGD may also be performed on a patient with chronic heartburn symptoms to screen for changes that are associated with esophageal cancer.