. 2025 Jul 2;60(9):1118–1144. doi: 10.1007/s00535-025-02271-7

Table 8.

General characteristics of each method

	Characteristics
SBCE	Offers the least invasiveness if mucosal lesions can be visualized and the capsule can be swallowed High sensitivity for lesion detection, but low specificity Patency capsules are necessary to evaluate small bowel patency (contraindicated for cases involving stenosis) When the capsule cannot be swallowed, it can be placed endoscopically using an endoscopic capsule insertion aid (AdvanCE^®)^a
BAE	Inflammation, stenosis, and other lesions can be directly observed, and procedures, such as biopsy and dilatation, can be performed Usually more invasive than SBCE and MRE Requires deep sedation or general anesthesia Risk of radiation exposure when fluoroscopy is used Risk of the inability to reach the lesion site
MRE	Particularly useful for cases of suspected intestinal stenosis and the evaluation of extraintestinal complications Because the intestinal tract must be dilated at the time of imaging, it is necessary to ensure that the prescribed amount of laxative is administered orally or injected through a nasogastric tube Because of the risk of aspiration of laxatives, patients requiring sedation usually cannot be examined

Characteristics

SBCE

Offers the least invasiveness if mucosal lesions can be visualized and the capsule can be swallowed

High sensitivity for lesion detection, but low specificity

Patency capsules are necessary to evaluate small bowel patency (contraindicated for cases involving stenosis)

When the capsule cannot be swallowed, it can be placed endoscopically using an endoscopic capsule insertion aid (AdvanCE^®)^a

BAE

Inflammation, stenosis, and other lesions can be directly observed, and procedures, such as biopsy and dilatation, can be performed

Usually more invasive than SBCE and MRE

Requires deep sedation or general anesthesia

Risk of radiation exposure when fluoroscopy is used

Risk of the inability to reach the lesion site

MRE

Particularly useful for cases of suspected intestinal stenosis and the evaluation of extraintestinal complications

Because the intestinal tract must be dilated at the time of imaging, it is necessary to ensure that the prescribed amount of laxative is administered orally or injected through a nasogastric tube

Because of the risk of aspiration of laxatives, patients requiring sedation usually cannot be examined

BAE balloon small bowel endoscopy, MRE magnetic resonance enterography, SBCE small bowel capsule endoscopy

^aEndoscopic implantation using an endoscopic capsule insertion aid (AdvanCE^®) is covered by the Japanese National Health Insurance for children aged < 15 years who are unable to swallow capsules