Upper endoscopy is an outpatient procedure that allows your physician to see your esophagus, your stomach, and the first part of your small intestine. Endoscopy is performed by a physician who inserts a thin tube with a light and a camera in its tip. This tube is called an endoscope. Endoscopy can help identify inflammation, ulcers, and other abnormalities. Barrett’s esophagus can be diagnosed through upper endoscopy: The physician performs a biopsy on a sample of the esophagus’s inner lining to check for the presence of abnormal cells.

Patients are sedated before the endoscope is inserted and their throats are sprayed with an anesthetic to make it easier to swallow the tube. Patients’ throats may be sore after endoscopy, but a lozenge may help.