The role of wireless capsule endoscopy in gastrointestinal polyposis syndromes

Patients with hereditary gastrointestinal polyposis syndromes frequently develop polypoid lesions in the small bowel and are at increased risk for small bowel malignancy. In this setting small bowel surveillance is strongly recommended. Wireless Capsule Endoscopy is a new promising diagnostic method for the examination of the entire small bowel. It is non invasive, safe and can be repeated several times if necessary. Early experience from its use is promising. It has a high diagnostic yield for small bowel pathology and is clearly superior and safer compared to radiological methods. It tends to be the diagnostic method of first choice for the initial evaluation and surveillance in polyposis syndrome patients. Further investigation of the patients and therapeutic strategy can be tailored according to the results of video capsule examination. Key words: Polyposis syndromes, Hereditary polyposis syndromes, Familial Polyposis Syndrome (FAP), Peutz –Jegher’s Syndrome, Wireless Capsule Endoscopy (WCE)