This procedure is used to look inside the body for any abnormal areas. It is done with an endoscope – a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera on the end. The endoscope is put into the body through a natural opening (such as the mouth) or a small cut made by the surgeon. The camera projects images onto a monitor so the doctor can see inside the body. If they see something suspicious, they can also take a tissue sample (biopsy) using the endoscope.
Learn more about endoscopies.
Common types of endoscopy
Type | What is checked | Where inserted |
| bronchoscopy or endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) | lungs or respiratory tract (airways) | mouth or nose |
| colonoscopy | colon (large bowel) | anus |
| colposcopy | vagina and cervix | placed outside the vulva and vagina, held open by a speculum |
| cystoscopy | bladder | urethra |
| gastroscopy | oesophagus, stomach and first part of the small bowel | mouth |
| hysteroscopy | uterus (womb) | vagina |
| laparoscopy | abdominal cavity, liver, bowel, uterus and ovaries | small cuts in abdomen |
| laryngoscopy | larynx (voice box) | mouth |
| sigmoidoscopy | lower part of the colon (large bowel) | anus |
| thoracoscopy | lungs | small cut in the chest |
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Key resource
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More resources
Prof Chris Karapetis, Network Clinical Director (Cancer Services), Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Head, Department of Medical Oncology, and Director, Clinical Research in Medical Oncology, Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders University, SA (Clinical review); Dr Amey Aurangabadkar, Radiologist, Illawarra Radiology Group, NSW; Clare Brophy, Consumer; Prof Katherine Clark, Clinical Director of Palliative Care, NSLHD Supportive and Palliative Care Network, Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Prof Wendy Cooper, Senior Staff Specialist, Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, NSW Health Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, NSW; A/Prof Richard Gallagher, Head and Neck Surgeon, Director of Cancer Services and Head and Neck Cancer Services, St Vincent’s Health Network, NSW; Dr Chloe Georgiou, Oncology Research Fellow, Australian Rare Cancer Portal, and Oncology Trials Fellow, Bendigo Health Cancer Centre, VIC; Dr Susan Harden, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Justin Hargreaves, Medical Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Bendigo Health Cancer Centre, VIC; Dr Laura Kirsten, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Nepean Cancer Care Centre, NSW; Prof Linda Mileshkin, Medical Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA.
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