What is upper endoscopy?

Upper endoscopy lets your doctor examine the lining of the upper part of your gastrointestinal tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach and duodenum (first portion of the small intestine). Your doctor will use a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope, which has its own lens and light source, and will view the images on a video monitor. You might hear your doctor or other medical staff refer to upper endoscopy as upper GI endoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or panendoscopy. o This procedure can help find the cause of unexplained symptoms such as: persistent heartburn, bleeding, nausea, problems swallowing. It can also identify different diseases, such as: anemia gastroesophageal reflux disease, cancer, celiac disease and more.