The COVID-19 pandemic has caused considerable disruption in healthcare services and has had a substantial impact on the care of patients with chronic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease. Endoscopy services were significantly restricted, resulting in long waiting lists. There has been a growing interest in the use of capsule endoscopy in the diagnostic pathway and management of these patients. This review explores the published literature on the role of colon capsule endoscopy in ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease as a method for mucosal assessment of extent, severity, and response to treatment. Colon capsule preparation regimens and scoring systems are reported. The studies indicate that, despite inherent limitations of minimally invasive capsule endoscopy, there is increasing evidence to support the use of the second-generation colon capsule in inflammatory bowel disease evaluation, providing an additional pathway to expedite investigation of appropriate patients especially during and after the pandemic.
The inverted appendix or appendiceal stump is a rare finding that may be identified at colonoscopy. This may cause diagnostic confusion and be misinterpreted as a polyp with a risk of peritonitis if excised endoscopically.
Key Clinical MessageGastric diverticula are rare and may sometimes cause diagnostic confusion. Most cases are asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally. However, sometimes they can cause a variety of clinical manifestations and may be complicated by bleeding, perforation, or malignancy. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of this unusual finding and the available management options.
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