These lists have been reviewed by the ASGE but there are some differences in use between the U.S. and the European community. The lists are provided and are being tested. In the U.S. Indications are often used in place of reasons for endoscopy. An Indication is used to define the reason for an endoscopy which complies with generally accepted standards of practice. There may be reasons for an endoscopy which are not Indications. For example, a patient may want to undergo annual colonoscopy for colorectal cancer surveillance even though there is no prior history of polyps or family history of colon cancer. The reason for colonoscopy is to exclude a tumor but there is no Indication.

The ASGE Committee's recommended list of "Indications" was intended as a means of assessing the relevance and necessity for an endoscopic examination. This list had been devised on the basis of the appropriateness of an individual examination. While appreciating the reasons behind this decision, the Committee felt that it was more important to record why a particular examination had been undertaken rather than instruct users when an examination was acceptable.

"Reasons for " have, therefore, been divided into:

1. Symptoms: to allow a user to record the symptoms for which an endoscopic examination is required. This is particularly important where a disease is difficult to define.

2. Diseases: this lists the common diseases for which an endoscopic examination may be required. These can be qualified by "Suspected…", "For exclusion of…", "For follow-up of…" or "For therapy of…".

3. Assessment of: this item was introduced in the "Reasons for" list in order to allow the recording of examinations performed to evaluate the status of a part of the GI tract before or after a surgical procedure, in the absence of a specific sign requiring the examination of this organ.

4. Diagnostic sampling: this was included as a "Reason for", as it was recognized that some examinations may only be performed to collect a sample.

The lists proposed are provided for each type of examination performed.

The following terms shall be used to describe the reasons for performing an upper gastrointestinal examination.

The following terms shall be used to describe the reasons for performing an lower gastrointestinal examination.

The following terms shall be used to describe the reasons for performing an ERCP.