Small Bowel Masses Found and Missed On Capsule Endoscopy for Obscure Bleeding

Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Use of Video Capsule Endoscopy

“…123,124 Capsule retention has been reported in approximately 1.4% of CE procedures. 120,121,[125][126][127] Retrospective studies have reported retention rates of 0% to 1.6% in patients with suspected IBD, and of 5.2% to 13% in patients with known IBD. 125,126 Patient factors associated with a higher risk of retention include known CD, 120,125,126,128 strictures or other obstruction, 126,129 pelvic or abdominal radiation, 128,130 or suspected tumor.…”

MR Imaging of the Small Bowel

“…The use of capsule endoscopy to evaluate small-bowel tumors, particularly submucosal forms, has several limitations (100,101). Indeed, capsule endoscopy may fail to depict neoplastic disease in as many as 18.9% of cases (102), and capsule retention occurs in 10%-25% of small-bowel tumor cases (100)(101)(102)(103).…”

Prospective Blinded Comparison of Wireless Capsule Endoscopy and Multiphase CT Enterography in Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding

“…Other investigators have also shown that capsule endoscopy may fail to depict clinically signifi cant small bowel masses, particularly as some small bowel tumors such as carcinoids or gastrointestinal stromal tumors may not have a mucosal component (19)(20)(21). A total of 19 false-negative capsule endoscopic examinations were reported in those three reports; 18 of the 19 missed lesions (95%) were masses.…”