General Gastrointestinal (GI) Symptoms

Home » General Gastrointestinal (GI) Symptoms » GI Bleeding Diagnosis

Diagnosis

It is important to diagnose the cause for GI bleeding. Diagnosis usually involves a medical history, including a history of symptoms and any changes in bowel habits, a physical examination, and diagnostic tests (e.g., blood test, stool test).

Endoscopy (e.g., esophago-duodenoscopy, enteroscopy, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy) uses a thin, flexible tube with a light and a camera attached to visualize the GI tract. These procedures can be used to locate the source of the bleeding and determine the severity. In some cases, instruments can be inserted through the endoscope to remove a tissue sample for microscopic evaluation (biopsy) or to stop the bleeding.

A capsule endoscope is a new diagnostic test in which the patient swallows a capsule that contains a tiny camera. This test allows the physician to view hard-to-reach areas of the GI tract. Imaging tests (e.g., CT scan, angiography, radionuclide scan) also can be used to locate GI bleeding.

© 1998-2009 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

General Gastrointestinal (GI) Symptoms Resources

	Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your GI Condition The more knowledge you have, the easier it is to make decisions about your gi condition. Print this free handout to take with you on your next office visit.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Join Our GI Bleeding Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted.
To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer