Wireless capsule endoscopy in the evaluation of patients with suspected or known Crohn's disease

Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) is a novel, noninvasive technique that can detect obscure mucosal lesions along the entire length of the small bowel. Early systematic studies of WCE in patients with Crohn's disease suggest that this technique is a very effective diagnostic too] in patients with a high clinical probability of having the disease, but whose classic endoscopic and radiographic studies have been negative. It is likely that WCE will replace radiographic studies in this setting in the near future. A careful clinical history must be taken and imaging studies of the small bowel are mandatory prior to WCE in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, in order to avoid the rare complication of capsule retention in intestinal strictures, although the use of the patency capsule will probably greatly facilitate the exclusion of relevant strictures in the near future.