CAPSULE ENDOSCOPY READING SUPPORT CENTERS: CURRENT STATUS AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

Capsule endoscopy is a minimally invasive and simple method of gastrointestinal tract examination, making it indispensable for diagnosing small intestinal diseases. Furthermore, colon capsule endoscopy significantly contributes to colorectal tumor screening in patients in whom colonoscopy is difficult to perform. However, reading the obtained images is a time-consuming and burdensome task. Furthermore, clinicians must be familiar with the images to make an accurate diagnosis, but there is a shortage of such individuals. To overcome these problems, a capsule endoscopy reading support network and capsule endoscopy reading support technician certification system have been established. The former comprises a system wherein capsule endoscopy images obtained at different examination facilities are read remotely at reading support centers, thereby reducing the burden of image analysis and standardizing diagnoses across different examination facilities. At the reading support centers, several capsule endoscopy images must be read accurately and rapidly. Furthermore, it is crucial to develop an efficient reading system comprising capsule endoscopy reading support technicians and to improve and maintain the image-reading ability at these centers. This article reviews the current status of capsule endoscopy reading support centers and challenges faced by them.