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This week on Healthwatch, we're talking about advances in medical technology. What if diagnosing what's going on inside you was as easy as swallowing a pill? In some cases, it is. Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center are now using a pill the size of a large vitamin capsule containing miniature cameras to diagnose disorders of the esophagus. The patient swallows the PillCam, which then takes 14 pictures per second as it travels down the esophagus. The PillCam transmits the pictures to a computer monitor. The PillCam passes naturally out of the body in about 24 hours.
Dr. Charles Ulrich, a UT Southwestern doctor who uses the PillCam, says it's most helpful for spotting pre-cancerous changes in patients who've had chronic acid reflux. Previously, doctors had to insert a flexible tube down the esophagus, which required sedation and a day away from work. With the PillCam, an exam takes about 20 minutes and the patient can immediately return to work.
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July 2005
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