The human digestive tract begins in the oral cavity and ends in the rectum. That is, it passes through almost the entire body. If you measure its length, then it will be more than 3 meters. One of the components of the digestive tract is the small intestine. It involves the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Disruption of the small intestine leads to a violation of these functions. As a result, enteritis develops - a disease that manifests itself in changes in the nature of the stool (diarrhea, constipation) and pain in the abdomen. How to check the small intestine for pathology? Diagnosis of diseases of this section of the digestive tract is carried out in various ways. Among them - endoscopic, radiological and laboratory studies.
Indications for the diagnosis of the small intestine
When is the small intestine checked? A study of this gastrointestinal tract is carried out in the presence of symptoms of pathology. The most common diseases of the small intestine include inflammatory processes, benign and malignant neoplasms. The following indications for the diagnosis of pathologies are distinguished:
- Acute and chronic enteritis. This is an inflammatory disease that can be caused by various pathogens. Among them are E. coli, entero- and rotavirus, staphylococci, etc.
- Crohn's disease. This pathology refers to specific inflammatory processes. With Crohn's disease, all parts of the digestive tract can be affected. Most often, destructive changes are observed in the small intestine. It is believed that the disease has an autoimmune development mechanism, and is also inherited.
- Benign tumors of the small intestine. These include polyps, fibromas, lipomas, angiomas, etc.
- Oncological pathologies of the small intestine. Develop from undifferentiated cells. The causes of intestinal cancer are the presence of long-existing chronic inflammatory processes, benign tumors, malnutrition and stress.
The reason for the diagnosis is such complaints as persistent abdominal pain (umbilical region), anemia, and stool disturbance.
How to check the small intestine: methods
Given the location of the small intestine, it can be argued that access to it is usually difficult. Therefore, the assessment of the state of this body is carried out in 2 ways. The first (FGDS) involves examining an organ through the oral cavity. Thus, you can see the initial section of the small intestine. The second diagnostic method is colonoscopy. In this case, visualization is carried out by introducing an endoscope through the anus. With the help of colonoscopy, you can assess the condition of the distal small intestine.
In addition to endoscopic methods, there are other diagnostic methods. How to check the small intestine without colonoscopy and FGDS? The following organ research methods are distinguished:
- Physical examination. It is the first step in the diagnosis of diseases of the small intestine. Physical examination means palpation and percussion of the abdomen.
- Laboratory research. Thanks to analyzes, you can find out if there is an inflammatory process, as well as oncological pathologies. Laboratory diagnostic methods include: UAC, fecal examination, smear for cytology.
- Radiography of the abdominal organs with contrast. This method helps to detect the presence of changes in the walls of the intestine, the shadow from neoplasms.
- Biopsy and histological examination. It is carried out with suspicion of an oncological process.
All these diagnostic procedures are of great importance in identifying pathologies of the small intestine. Often, several research methods are required.
How to check the small intestine: tests for diseases
After collecting complaints and examining the patient, if a small bowel disease is suspected, laboratory diagnostics are performed. First of all, a study of general and biochemical blood tests is prescribed. KLA can detect the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. In addition, with the help of it you can find out the nature of the pathogen (bacteria or viruses). With a pronounced acceleration of ESR, cancer should be suspected. Of great importance for diagnosis is the analysis of feces - coproscopy. Undigested food residues (muscle fibers, fiber, fatty acids) are found in it.
Endoscopic examination of the small intestine
How to check the small intestine using endoscopic research methods? There are 2 diagnostic procedures for this purpose. The first is FGDS. With the help of this examination, it is possible to visualize the upper sections of the gastrointestinal tract. These include the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. Thanks to FGDS, you can make a diagnosis: duodenitis, duodenal ulcer, Crohn's disease. All these pathologies develop with inflammation of the initial part of the small intestine. In addition, this endoscopic procedure helps to identify benign and malignant processes within the duodenum.
Diagnosis of the small intestine often involves colonoscopy. A similar examination is prescribed for violation of the stool, abdominal pain. With its help it is possible to visualize not only the small, but also the large intestine. It allows you to assess the condition of the walls and lumen of the organ. Thanks to colonoscopy, inflammatory changes in the intestine, destructive processes, and neoplasms are revealed. In addition, at the same time as this study, an organ tissue biopsy can be performed.
Preparation for the colonoscopy procedure
Preparing for a colonoscopy is very important. To conduct a qualitative examination, the intestine must be completely cleaned of feces. Also, visualization may be impaired with the accumulation of gases in the lumen of the organ. Preparation for a colonoscopy includes the following steps:
- Compliance with the diet 2-3 days before the examination. It is necessary to exclude products leading to increased gas formation from the diet. These include some vegetables (cabbage, beets), apples, white bread and other flour products, milk porridges.
- Bowel cleansing. This can be done with medication. The drug for cleansing the intestines is Fortrans laxative. The medication is available in powder form and diluted in 3 liters of water. The resulting solution must be consumed on the eve of the study and in the morning (before the procedure).
You can also cleanse the intestines with an enema. However, one procedure will not be enough. It is recommended to perform a cleansing enema 3-4 times.
Diagnosis of oncological pathologies of the small intestine
How to check the small intestine for oncology, as well as to distinguish a benign tumor from cancer? You can suspect a neoplasm according to the patient's complaints and the results of the listed diagnostic methods. However, an accurate diagnosis will be possible only after special examinations. These include biopsy, analysis for cytology and histology. It is possible to take material for research using endoscopic diagnostic methods - FGDS (with a duodenal tumor) or colonoscopy. Cytological analysis allows you to assess the condition of the cells that make up the neoplasm. The degree of differentiation of tumor tissue is established by histological examination.
How to suspect cancer of the small intestine?
Oncological processes in the small intestine are not considered common cancer pathologies. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to diagnose such diseases on time. Only with certain symptoms and after a series of studies can cancer of the small intestine be suspected. The characteristic features include: pain in the umbilical ring, mesogastric pain. In addition, there may be a change in the shape and consistency of the stool, constipation. Less often, patients are concerned about nausea and vomiting (with localization of the tumor in the proximal intestine). In most cases, cancer develops against a background of duodenal ulcer, polyposis, and Crohn's pathology.
How to check the small intestine for suspected tumor? First of all, the patient must pass a blood test and feces. In bowel movements, “hidden blood” can be detected. This symptom often indicates an oncological process in the small or large intestine. If blood is detected in the feces, a colonoscopy is performed with a tissue biopsy.
In which clinics can I check the small intestine?
Where can I check the small intestine for pathology? Diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases is performed in almost all medical institutions. Most of the research is done on an outpatient basis. When a patient is in the hospital, the diagnosis of diseases of the small intestine is performed in a hospital. You can do a colonoscopy in any clinic that has the right equipment for endoscopy.
Physical examination of the small intestine
Physical diagnostic methods include patient interrogation and examination. Palpation of the abdomen can detect changes such as increased or decreased peristalsis in a certain area, bloating, retraction of the anterior abdominal wall. All these signs indicate a malfunction of the small intestine. However, an accurate diagnosis cannot be made without laboratory and instrumental studies.
X-ray diagnosis of diseases of the small intestine
An x-ray of the small intestine is often done with contrast. For this purpose, a suspension of barium is used. It is first necessary to cleanse the intestines (as with colonoscopy). After taking a survey, the patient should drink a contrast medium. It stains the intestines, thereby improving visualization. Next, a number of x-rays are taken. Thanks to this study, it is possible to identify changes in the contours of the intestinal wall (with Crohn's disease), the presence of neoplasms in the lumen of the organ, ulcerative defects.