Among the significant current topics in gastroenterology, the endoscopic
capsule, virtual colonography, and ischaemic
colitis deserve special considerations. Main indications of the endoscopic
capsule are the diagnosis of small intestinal (
bleeding)
angiodysplasias, Crohn's lesions and tumours. The main drawbacks are gastrointestinal blockage of the
capsule due to
stenosis and flat batteries before the
capsule reaches the distal small intestine. Future advantages may stem from a wider pre-use of an auto-digestible
capsule capable of pre-cautionary excluding stenotic gastrointestinal segments ant the pill-cam for the evaluation of the oesophagus. Virtual colonography is a promising and attractive non-invasive alternative for the detection of tumoral colonic lesions (
polyps and
cancers). Its specific role as a screening procedure or investigation of symptomatic patients has to be better established. In a near future development of patients-friendly bowel preparation, high standard level of the evaluators and advances in computed software should likely allow a better definition of its overall potential. Ischaemic
colitis is still a very difficult proposition for gastroenterologists and surgeons from any point of view. Its prompt recognition is a very significant advantage for the
therapy. In addition to the advances in diagnostics and
therapy, recent data have been reported as far as the pathogenesis of ischaemic
colitis is concerned. Useful information has paradoxically come from the side effects of the
5-HT3 antagonists and
5-HT4 agonists used in treatment of
irritable bowel syndrome patients.