Contraindications to capsule endoscopy: do any still exist?

Clinical factors related to false-positive rates of patency capsule examination

BACKGROUND

Retention is the most common complication of capsule endoscopy (CE), and is reported to occur in 0-13% of cases. To avoid retention, a PillCam patency capsule (PC) is used in patients with suspected intestinal stenosis. However, a relatively low positive predictive value of the PC examination has been reported previously. The aims of this study were to clarify the accuracy of PC examination and to evaluate clinical factors related to cases of false-positive detection.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective single-center study of 282 consecutive patients referred for PC examination. Patients in which the PC could not pass through the small bowel within 33 h were classified into the 'no patency' group. The 'no patency' group was investigated for evidence of significant stenosis upon further examinations, including CE, double-balloon endoscopy, and small bowel follow-through after PC examination. Clinical factors related to small bowel patency and false-positive cases were evaluated.

RESULTS

We included 161 male (57.1%) and 121 female (42.9%) patients with a mean age of 47.5 ± 17.7 years. Of the 282 patients enrolled, 27 patients exhibited 'no patency' upon PC examination. Multivariate analysis showed that clinical factors related to 'no patency' included Crohn's disease, abdominal symptoms, stenosis upon imaging, and previous abdominal surgery. Upon further examination, nine cases in the 'no patency' group had significant stenosis. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values of PC examination for detecting small bowel stenosis were 93.8%, 96.6%, 99.6%, and 62.5%, respectively, and the only clinical factor related to false-positive cases was constipation (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

We found a relatively low positive predictive value of PC examination and that constipation was related to false-positive results. To extend the implications of CE indications, clinical study focusing on these results is expected.

Capsule endoscopy--not just for the small bowel: a review

Video capsule endoscopy is being increasingly used to investigate the esophagus and colon as well as the small bowel. With the advancement of technology used in capsule endoscopy there have been marked improvements in diagnostic rates for colon capsule endoscopy in the detection of colonic polyps and colorectal cancer. It is also being increasingly used in the field if inflammatory bowel disease to investigate for mucosal inflammation and could potentially be used to assess mucosal healing. It also has role in completing the evaluation of colonic pathology in those in whom colonoscopy is incomplete. Esophageal capsule is preferred by patients over esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) but as yet does not rival EGD in terms of diagnostic accuracy however the advent of magnetically steerable capsules may improve this. This review covers advances in the field of colon and esophageal capsule endoscopy; it covers diagnostic capabilities of these 2 tools as well as technical aspects of both procedures and preparation.

Role of small bowel capsule endoscopy in the diagnosis and management of iron deficiency anemia in elderly: A comprehensive review of the current literature

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is common and often under recognized problem in the elderly. It may be the result of multiple factors including a bleeding lesion in the gastrointestinal tract. Twenty percent of elderly patients with IDA have a negative upper and lower endoscopy and two-thirds of these have a lesion in the small bowel (SB). Capsule endoscopy (CE) provides direct visualization of entire SB mucosa, which was not possible before. It is superior to push enteroscopy, enteroclysis and barium radiography for diagnosing clinically significant SB pathology resulting in IDA. Angioectasia is one of the commonest lesions seen on the CE in elderly with IDA. The diagnostic yield of CE for IDA progressively increases with advancing age, and is highest among patients over 85 years of age. Balloon assisted enteroscopy is used to treat the lesions seen on CE. CE has some limitations mainly lack of therapeutic capability, inability to provide precise location of the lesion and false positive results. Overall CE is a very safe and effective procedure for the evaluation of IDA in elderly.

Clinical usefulness of classification by transabdominal ultrasonography for detection of small-bowel stricture

OBJECTIVE

To assess the clinical usefulness of transabdominal ultrasonography (TUS) for detection of small-bowel stricture.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Subjects were 796 patients undergoing double-balloon endoscopy (DBE), December 2003-October 2011. All underwent TUS prior to DBE. The TUS findings were classified by type as intestinal narrowing and distension at the oral side (Type A); extensive bowel wall thickening (Type B); focal bowel wall thickening (Type C) or no abnormality detected (Type D). We compared TUS findings against DBE findings with respect to small-bowel stricture, defined as failure of the enteroscope to pass through the small bowel.

RESULTS

Small-bowel stricture was detected by DBE in 11.3% (90/796) of patients. Strictures resulted from Crohn's disease (n = 36), intestinal tuberculosis (n = 24), malignant lymphoma (n = 9), ischemic enteritis (n = 6), NSAID ulcer (n = 5), radiation enteritis (n = 2), surgical anastomosis (n = 2) and other abnormalities (n = 6). Stricture was detected by TUS in 93.3% (84/90) of patients, and each such stricture fell into one of the three types of TUS abnormality. The remaining 6 strictures were detected only by DBE. DBE-identified strictures corresponded to TUS findings as follows: 100% (43/43) to Type A, 59.1% (29/49) to Type B, 14.8% (12/81) to Type C and 1% (6/623) to Type D. Correspondence between stricture and the Type A classification (vs. Types B, C and D) was significantly high, as was correspondence between stricture and Type B (vs. Types C and D).

CONCLUSIONS

TUS was shown to be useful for detecting small-bowel stricture. We recommend performing TUS first when a small-bowel stricture is suspected.

Emergency physicians accurately interpret video capsule endoscopy findings in suspected upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage: a video survey

BACKGROUND

Acute upper gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage is a common emergency department (ED) presentation whose severity ranges from benign to life-threatening and the best tool to risk stratify the disease is an upper endoscopy, either by scope or by capsule, a procedure performed almost exclusively by gastroenterologists. Unfortunately, on-call gastroenterology specialists are often unavailable, and emergency physicians (EPs) currently lack an alternative method to endoscopically visualize a suspected acute upper GI hemorrhage. Recent reports have shown that video capsule endoscopy is well tolerated by ED patients and has similar sensitivity and specificity to endoscopy for upper GI hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES

The study objective was to determine if EPs can detect upper GI bleeding on capsule endoscopy after a brief training session.

METHODS

A survey study was designed to demonstrate video examples of capsule endoscopy to EPs and determine if they could detect upper GI bleeding after a brief training session. All videos were generated from a prior ED-based study on patients with suspected acute upper GI hemorrhage. The training session consisted of less than 10 minutes of background information and capsule endoscopy video examples. EPs were recruited at the American College of Emergency Physicians Scientific Assembly in Denver, Colorado, from October 8, 2012, to October 10, 2012. Inclusion criteria included being an ED resident or attending physician and the exclusion criteria included any formal endoscopy training. The authors analyzed the agreement between the EPs and expert adjudicated capsule endoscopy readings for each capsule endoscopy video. For the outcome categories of blood (fresh or coffee grounds type) or no blood detected, the sensitivity and specificity were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 126 EPs were enrolled. Compared to expert gastroenterology-adjudicated interpretation, the sensitivity to detect blood was 0.94 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.91 to 0.96) and specificity was 0.87 (95% CI = 0.80 to 0.92).

CONCLUSIONS

After brief training, EPs can accurately interpret video capsule endoscopy findings of presence of gross blood or no blood with high sensitivity and specificity.

Safety of capsule endoscopy using human body communication in patients with cardiac devices

BACKGROUND

The MiroCam (IntroMedic, Ltd., Seoul, Korea) is a small-bowel capsule endoscope that uses human body communication to transmit data. The potential interactions between cardiac devices and the capsule endoscope are causes for concern, but no data are available for this matter.

AIM

This clinical study was designed to evaluate the potential influence of the MiroCam capsules on cardiac devices.

METHODS

Patients with cardiac pacemakers or implantable cardiac defibrillators referred for evaluation of small bowel disease were prospectively enrolled in this study. Before capsule endoscopy, a cardiologist checked baseline electrocardiograms and functions of the cardiac devices. Cardiac rhythms were continuously monitored by 24-h telemetry during capsule endoscopy in the hospital. After completion of procedures, functions of the cardiac devices were checked again for interference. Images from the capsule endoscopy were reviewed and analyzed for technical problems.

RESULTS

Six patients, three with pacemakers and three with implantable cardiac defibrillators, were included in the study. We identified no disturbances in the cardiac devices and no arrhythmias detected on telemetry monitoring during capsule endoscopy. No significant changes in the programmed parameters of the cardiac devices were noted after capsule endoscopy. There were no imaging disturbances from the cardiac devices on capsule endoscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

Capsule endoscopy using human body communication to transmit data was safely performed in patients with cardiac pacemakers or implantable cardiac defibrillators. Images from the capsule endoscopy were not affected by cardiac devices. A further large-scale study is required to confirm the safety of capsule endoscopy with various types of cardiac devices.

Capsule impaction presenting as acute small bowel perforation: a case series

Introduction

Perforation caused by capsule endoscopy impaction is extremely rare and, at present, only five cases of perforation from capsule endoscopy impaction are reported in the literature.

Case presentation

We report here two cases of patients with undiagnosed small bowel stenosis presenting with acute perforation after capsule endoscopy. Strictures in the small bowel were likely the inciting mechanism leading to acute small bowel obstruction and subsequent distension and perforation above the capsule in the area of maximal serosal tension.

Case 1 was a 55-year-old Italian woman who underwent capsule endoscopy because of recurrent postprandial cramping pain and iron deficiency anemia, in the setting of negative imaging studies including an abdominal ultrasound, upper endoscopy, colonoscopy and small bowel follow-through radiograph. She developed a symptomatic bowel obstruction approximately 36 hours after ingestion of the capsule. Emergent surgery was performed to remove the capsule, which was impacted at a stenosis due to a previously undiagnosed ileal adenocarcinoma, leading to perforation.

Case 2 was a 60-year-old Italian man with recurrent episodes of abdominal pain and diarrhea who underwent capsule endoscopy after conventional modalities, including comprehensive blood and stool studies, computed tomography, an abdominal ultrasound, upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, barium enema and small bowel follow-through, were not diagnostic. Our patient developed abdominal distension, acute periumbilical pain, fever and leukocytosis 20 hours after capsule ingestion. Emergent surgery was performed to remove the capsule, which was impacted at a previously undiagnosed ileal Crohn’s stricture, leading to perforation.

Conclusions

The present report shows that, although the risk of acute complication is very low, the patient should be informed of the risks involved in capsule endoscopy, including the need for emergency surgical exploration.

Risks versus benefits of gastrointestinal endoscopy during pregnancy

Although gastrointestinal endoscopy is generally safe, its safety must be separately analyzed during pregnancy with regard to fetal safety. Fetal risks from endoscopic medications are minimized by avoiding FDA category D drugs, minimizing endoscopic medications, and anesthesiologist attendance at endoscopy. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy seems to be relatively safe for the fetus and may be performed when strongly indicated during pregnancy. Despite limited clinical data, endoscopic banding of esophageal varices and endoscopic hemostasis of nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding seems justifiable during pregnancy. Flexible sigmoidoscopy during pregnancy also appears to be relatively safe for the fetus and may be performed when strongly indicated. Colonoscopy may be considered in pregnant patients during the second trimester if there is a strong indication. Data on colonoscopy during the other trimesters are limited. Therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography seems to be relatively safe during pregnancy and should be performed for strong indications (for example, complicated choledocholithiasis). Endoscopic safety precautions during pregnancy include the performance of endoscopy in hospital by an expert endoscopist and only when strongly indicated, deferral of endoscopy to the second trimester whenever possible, and obstetric consultation.

[Safety of gastrointestinal endoscopy during pregnancy]

There are only few data of gastrointestinal endoscopy in pregnant patients. Only 0.4% of all procedures are carried out during pregnancy. Case reports and some small retrospective studies are available. Because of physiological changes in pregnancy there might be special risks of endoscopy. There might be complaints which can be physiologic during pregnancy, but can be signs of gastrointestinal disorders, too. Therefore, indications for endoscopy are not always clear and easy. Safety of the procedures is also not well studied. Besides the risks of endoscopy, medication given to the mother, electrocoagulation and radiation exposure from fluoroscopy during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography might be harmful to the fetus. Endoscopy should only be done when indication is unquestionable and strong. Only FDA "A" and "B" category medication is allowed. Gastroscopy is necessary for bleeding and for patients with pyrosis going together with alarm signs. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fecal occult blood test positivity are not indications for endoscopy, only for gastroenterogical consultation. Sigmoidoscopy is recommended for indication of lower gastrointestinal bleeding and sigmoid or rectal mass. Only therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography should be performed. Obstructive jaundice and biliary pancreatitis need immediate endoscopic intervention. The fetus must be shielded from radiation exposure.

Small Bowel Obstruction Caused by Carcinoid Tumor and Incidental Capsule Retention

Capsule endoscopy (CE) is a sensitive modality for examining the small bowel and is commonly employed to identify a variety of small bowel pathologies. We report a case of capsule retention leading to diagnosis of a chronic condition. A 60-year-old female presented with abdominal pain, nausea, and weight loss for 3 years. Physical exam revealed a mildly tender abdomen with hypoactive bowel sounds. Laboratory was normal. Abdominal radiographs showed a partial small bowel obstruction with retained capsule. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a retained capsule in the mid-portion of the jejunum, dilated small bowel, and terminal ileal mass. She underwent exploratory laparotomy showing an ileal mass with hepatic metastasis. A right hemicolectomy, reanastomosis, and removal of the retained capsule were performed. Pathology showed well-differentiated carcinoid tumor. She was discharged home for further treatment with oncology. Carcinoid tumors of the small bowel usually present with abdominal pain or small bowel obstruction. Our patient had intermittent small bowel obstruction due to a carcinoid tumor and retained capsule causing her symptoms. CE is a valuable tool but requires extensive consideration and possible patency capsule prior to use in patients presenting with symptoms consistent with Crohn's disease or small bowel tumor.

In vivo trial of a driving system for a self-propelling capsule endoscope using a magnetic field (with video)

BACKGROUND

A capsule endoscope does not allow the examiner to observe a lesion from the desired direction in real time.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a driving system for a self-propelling capsule endoscope (SPCE) by using a magnetic field.

SETTING

Experimental endoscopic study in a live dog model.

DESIGN AND INTERVENTIONS

A microactuator was developed with the aim of remote-control operation. We developed a driving system for SPCE by attaching a capsule endoscope to this medical microactuator and performed the following experiments. (1) We operated this SPCE by remote control in the stomach of a dog under sedation and obtained endoscopic images using a real-time monitoring system only. (2) We placed a hemostatic clip on the gastric mucosa and recorded images of this clip with the SPCE. (3) We also placed clips at 2 other sites in the stomach and asked the SPCE operator, who was unaware of the location of the clips, to identify the site, number, and color of the clips.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Evaluation of performance of a driving system for SPCE.

RESULTS

The operator was able to obtain endoscopic images with the SPCE in the stomach of a dog in vivo, in any desired direction, by remote control. SPCE produced clear images of the clips placed in the stomach. The operator was able to easily identify the site, number, and color of the clips.

LIMITATIONS

Animal model.

CONCLUSIONS

Our trial suggests the possibility of clinical application of the driving system for an SPCE using a magnetic field.

Wireless capsule endoscopy in detecting small-intestinal polyps in familial adenomatous polyposis

AIM: To detect the prevalence of small bowel polyps by wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).

METHODS: We examined prospectively 14 patients with FAP to assess the location, size and number of small-intestinal polyps. Patients’ age, sex, years of observation after surgery, type of surgery, duodenal polyps and colorectal cancer at surgery were analyzed.

RESULTS: During WCE, polyps were detected in 9/14 (64.3%) patients. Duodenal adenomatous polyps were found in nine (64.3%) patients, and jejunal and ileal polyps in seven (50%) and eight (57.1%), respectively. The Spigelman stage of duodenal polyposis was associated with the presence of jejunal and ileal polyps. Identification of the ampulla of Vater was not achieved with WCE. Importantly, the findings of WCE had no immediate impact on the further clinical management of FAP patients. No procedure-related complications were observed in the patients.

CONCLUSION: WCE is a promising noninvasive new method for the detection of small-intestinal polyps. Further investigation is required to determine which phenotype of FAP is needed for surveillance with WCE.

Evaluation of iron deficiency anemia in older adults: the role of wireless capsule endoscopy

INTRODUCTION

Anemia although a frequent problem in all age groups, is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. Despite standard endoscopic diagnostic evaluations with esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy, up to 30% of patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are without a definitive diagnosis. Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) (occult or overt) from the small bowel, could be the source of IDA in patients with normal EGD and colonoscopy. Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE), a relatively new diagnostic modality helps in the detection of small bowel mucosal abnormalities.

AIM

The aim of this study is to report on the diagnostic yield (DY) of WCE for IDA with or without OGIB in older adults and its comparison with younger age groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, data is based on652 consecutive WCE performed during a 5-year period (2002 to 2007).

RESULTS

Total number ofWCE=652 (males=311, females=341). IDA was the indication for WCE in 424 of 652 cases (65%). Most common finding observed by WCE in patients with IDA without OGIB: group 1 (age<50 y)=small bowel erosion (19%) and ulceration (19%), group 2 (age 50 to 64 y)=small bowel erosion (33%), group 3 (age 65 to 85 y, older adults)=small bowel erosion (30%), and group 4 (age>85 y, the oldest old)=small bowel erosion (38%). Most common finding observed by WCE in patients with IDA with OGIB: group 1=small bowel ulceration (19%), group 2=small bowel erosion (26%), group 3=small bowel erosion (38%), and group 4=angiodysplasia (55%). DY of WCE for IDA without OGIB: group 1=50%, group 2=52%, group 3=56%, and group 4=69%. DY of WCE for IDA with OGIB: group 1=38%, group 2=58%, group 3=63%, and group 4=73%. Active bleeding in the small bowel was seen in 48 of 424 (11%) patients with IDA.

CONCLUSIONS

WCE, a valuable tool for the visualization of entire small bowel mucosa plays a critical role for the evaluation of IDA in patients with negative EGD and colonoscopy. Small bowel erosions, ulcerations, and angiodysplasia observed by WCE are the most frequent findings in patients with IDA. DY of WCE in the evaluation of IDA progressively increases as age advances.

Impact of capsule endoscopy on outcome in mid-intestinal bleeding: a multicentre cohort study in 285 patients

BACKGROUND

Capsule endoscopy (CE) sensitively detects the bleeding source in the small bowel. However, the influence of CE on long-term outcome is not well established.

METHODS

In five tertiary hospitals, all CE investigations were retrospectively identified dating back to 3 years. Patients with intestinal bleeding and negative bidirectional endoscopy were included, and relapse of bleeding was recorded.

RESULTS

A bleeding source was detected in 219 of 285 patients (76.8%); CE provided the diagnosis in 175 of 219 (79.9%) and other, repeated investigations in 44 cases (20.1%). Follow-up (mean+/-SD=20.7+/-9.4 months) in 240 patients identified rebleeding in 65 (27.1%), and readmission to a hospital in 42 (17.5%). Hospital readmission was most frequent in patients with angiectasias (31.3%, relative risk (RR)=5.0; 95% confidence interval (CI)=2.4-10.4). Other risk factors included patients being older than 60 years of age (RR=3.8; 95% CI=1.5-9.5), and anticoagulant medication (RR=3.0; 95% CI=1.5-6.0). Therapeutic measures had a mean recurrence rate of 3.7% in surgical candidates (Meckel's diverticulum, tumor), 40% in endoscopically treated and 16% in medically treated patients. In case all the detected angiectasias had been cauterized, the relapse rate was low (11.8%), but in incompletely treated patients, it was high (85.7%). Bleeding relapse was never lethal.

CONCLUSION

CE guides therapeutic measures and predicts the risk of recurrent bleeding in small intestinal bleeding. High risk of rebleeding in angiectasias is significantly reduced by the cauterization of all demonstrable lesions.

Agile patency system eliminates risk of capsule retention in patients with known intestinal strictures who undergo capsule endoscopy

BACKGROUND

Capsule endoscopy (CE) of the small bowel has become a standard diagnostic tool, but there have been concerns regarding the risk of capsule retention in certain high-risk groups. The Agile patency system, an ingestible and dissolvable capsule with an external scanner, was developed to allow physicians to perform CE with greater confidence that the capsule will be safely excreted in patients at risk for capsule retention.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to assess the ability of the device to help physicians identify which patients with known strictures may safely undergo CE.

DESIGN

Patients with known strictures ingested the new patency capsule and underwent periodic scanning until it was excreted. The intestinal tract was considered to be sufficiently patent if the capsule was excreted intact or if the capsule was not detected by the scanner at 30 hours after ingestion. If patency was established, then standard CE was performed.

SETTING

International multicenter study.

PATIENTS

A total of 106 patients with known strictures.

INTERVENTION

Agile patency system.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Performance and safety of Agile patency system.

RESULTS

A total of 106 patients ingested the patency capsule. Fifty-nine (56%) excreted it intact and subsequently underwent CE. There were no cases of capsule retention. Significant findings on CE were found in 24 (41%). There were 3 severe adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the Agile patency system is a useful tool for physicians to use before CE in patients with strictures to avoid retention. This group of patients may have a high yield of clinically significant findings at CE. This capsule may determine whether patients who have a contraindication to CE may safely undergo CE and obtain useful diagnostic information.

Small intestinal motility

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review recently published studies presenting novel and relevant information on small intestinal motility.

RECENT FINDINGS

The reviewed studies covered a variety of topics with several themes emerging. Our understanding of the influence of systemic disorders, intestinal and extraintestinal infections and enteric bacteria on digestive motor function continues to involve. Elegant and important new studies have been published that better define the physiology of intestinal gas handling along with the genesis of symptoms commonly attributed to excessive intestinal gas. While interest in small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in irritable bowel syndrome continues, the utility and specificity of lactulose hydrogen breath testing is yet again questioned and further data are needed before the practice of routinely prescribing antibiotics to patients with irritable bowel syndrome can be endorsed.

SUMMARY

Small intestinal motility remains an understudied area. Recent publications provide additional new information related to physiology and pathophysiology of small bowel motility. These findings should be of interest to clinician and investigator alike.

Findings in patients with chronic intestinal dysmotility investigated by capsule endoscopy

Background

Capsule endoscopy (CE) is a unique tool to visualize the mucosa of the small intestine. Chronic intestinal dysmotility (CID) is a group of rare disorders of gastrointestinal motility that often are complicated by bacterial overgrowth. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of small bowel mucosal abnormalities in patients with CID. We also studied the usefulness of CE in the diagnosis of intestinal dysmotility.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study using CE in 18 patients; six with myopathic, 11 with neuropathic and one with indeterminate CID. A control group was used for comparison of small bowel transit.

Results

Mucosal breaks (erosions and ulcerations) were found in 16/18 (89%) patients. The capsule reached the caecum in 11/18 (61%) patients with a median transit time of 346 minutes. In the control group the capsule reached the caecum in 29/36 (81%) cases with a median transit time of 241 minutes. The difference in transit time was not significant (p = 0.061) in this material. The capsule was retained in the stomach in 3/18 patients. None of the patients developed symptoms or signs of mechanical obstruction.

Conclusion

A high frequency of mucosal breaks and signs of motility disturbances were seen in CID patients. CE is feasible for the examination of small bowel mucosa in patients with CID. The relevance of observed mucosal abnormalities in CID remains uncertain.

The patient with recurrent (sub) obstruction due to Crohn's disease

Stricturing Crohn's disease (CD) occurs in 12-54% of the CD patient population and is associated with significant morbidity and impaired quality of life. The detailed pathophysiology of stricture formation has not been fully elucidated, but is primarily associated with luminal narrowing secondary to inflammation and the fibrosis that ensues during mucosal healing. The diagnosis of stricturing disease is based on clinical signs and symptoms along with imaging modalities. The advantages and shortcomings of each imaging modality are discussed. Treatment options are based on the differentiation between inflammatory versus fibrous-predominant strictures; whereas the former can potentially be managed with conservative medical treatment, the latter necessitates a mechanical solution through endoscopy or surgery. Indications, contra-indications and success rates of the different therapeutic approaches are discussed.