Comparison of detectability of small-bowel lesions between capsule endoscopy and double-balloon endoscopy for patients with suspected small-bowel disease

Background: There are many reports of the usefulness of capsule endoscopy (CE) or double-ballon endoscopy (DBE) for the detection of small-bowel disease. However, there ire few reports that compared CE and DBE. Objective: To determine Whether CE or DBE better detects small-bowel lesions in patients with suspected small-bowel disease. Design: A prospective single-center study. Setting: Department of Endoscopy, Hiroshima University Hospital. Main Outcome Measurements: Rates of CE and DBE detection of small-bowel lesions. Patients: Seventy-six consecutive patients (47 men, 29 women; mean age 56.0 years) Who Underwent both CE and DBE. Methods: CE was performed before DBE. DBEs were performed within 1 week, by both retrograde and antegrade approaches so that the entire small bowel could be examined, if possible. Results: Small-bowel lesions were detected by CE in 42 patients (55.3%) and by DBE in 46 patients (60.5%). The difference was not significant (P = .45). Total enteroscopy was achieved by both examinations in 35 patients, and small-bowel lesions were detected by both examinations in 21, of the 35 patients (60.0%). Agreement between results of the 2 examinations was good (kappa = 0.76). Limitation: The main indication for examinations was not the same. Conclusions: CE and DBE are nearly equal in their ability to detect small-bowel lesions if the entire small bowel is examined. (Gastrointest Endosc 2009;69:857-65.)