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How did flexible fibre-optic gastroscopes improve examination of the stomach?

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The development of the flexible fibre-optic gastroscope by Basil Hirschowitz in 1957 represented a significant advancement in the diagnosis of digestive system diseases.1

Unlike earlier semirigid instruments, these fibre-optic devices are highly pliable and maneuverable, allowing physicians to access areas of the body that were previously difficult or impossible to reach without causing significant patient discomfort. Composed of bundles of hairlike glass rods, these instruments can be easily bent and twisted, while their intense light source enables the endoscopist to visualize the stomach and duodenum by looking forward, backward, and around corners.2

Furthermore, these gastroscopes can be equipped with various accessories, which allow medical professionals to perform essential diagnostic and therapeutic tasks, such as obtaining tissue samples, removing foreign objects, and excising polyps or small tumours.2