Regular Inspections

Regular endoscopies are essential for early detection of small neoplastic lesions (including polyps that can develop into cancers) that may go unnoticed and ensure early detection and treatment. We recommend this procedure, especially for patients those over the age of 40, regardless of any symptom. The recommended frequency is: once a year for stomach, esophagus, and duodenum inspections, once every 3 years for colon inspections, and once every 10 years for small intestines.

Endoscopic examination

For Gastroscopy, we insert the endoscope from the mouth, and examine the pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, and the duodenum. By using the conscious sedation, we can avoid throat anesthesia which most patients are reluctant to accept. After observing the stomach, we spray indigo carmine (blue dye) throughout the stomach and observe again. We use lugol staining for any anomalies in the esophagus and tissue examinations (biopses) may be performed. Gastroscopies take approximately 20 minutes. For Colonoscopy, we ask the patients to take the colon lavage solution to assist in cleaning out the tracts. After conscious sedation, we insert the endoscope with a zoom lens; with a diameter of 10mm, from the anus until it reaches the cecum and examine as we slowly remove. We carefully examine for lesions, and execute excisions on the spot for neoplastic polyps and cancers that can be immediately removed. No matter how small the size is or how many the amount are, if we judge that the lesions should be excised, we shall remove them. Either way, the treatment causes painless, and will take about 40 minutes. We perform treatments with care and according to need of each patient. We take as much time as necessary to carry out a perfect pain free examination.

Conscious Sedation

We provide analgesics and tranquilizer shots before endoscopies. Patients can be under sedation without having to be nervous or in pain throughout the examination. It is literally “an endoscopic examination and treatment while taking a nap.”

Contrast Chromoscopy Using an Indigo Carmine Capsule

By taking a dye capsule (indigo carmine: Food coloring dye) before the colonoscopy, the colors are accumulated on the concave portions of the bowel surface, enabling accurate detections of lesion boarders and precise examinations of their characteristics. This method received the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society Award in 1995, and has been approved as one of the best methods for early detection of minute colon polyps and cancers.