What’s the true abbreviation for “gastric endoscopy “? GS? EGD? GIF? or others?

Too many abbreviations make us confused

The abbreviations referring to “gastric endoscopy” are so different among institutions. 

I’m sometimes asked by our colleagues from other specialties, nurses, and junior residents what the true abbreviation is. 

You can learn the correct abbreviation for endoscopy through this article.

GS（Gastroscopy）:

GS stands for the endoscope itself, I mean the black-colored, long tube-shaped substance with which we investigate patients inside the wall of the stomach, esophagus, and duodenum. Although my senior residents or boss told me that GS is the right abbreviation for endoscopy, this is not the correct one.

GIF（Gastrointestinal Fiberscope）:

GIF also refers to a fiberscope itself, especially the products of Olympus, the Japanese company. For example, GIF-H290 or something like that. Whereas endoscopists in our country, Japan, often use this word, this is NOT an abbreviation used worldwide.

GF（GastroFiberscope）:

GF means endoscopy, similar to GS or GIF, but has a slightly different nuance.

It is terminology that often indicates the features of endoscopy.

There are many tiny and thin glass fibers inside the endoscope. This construction was invented in the 1960s, and it allows us to investigate inside the body in more detail.

GF might be the true abbreviation, but it is not…

UGI（Upper Gastrointestinal Imaging/ Upper Gastrointestinal endoscopy）

This term refers to all investigations of the upper gastrointestinal tract, not only gastroendoscopy but also barium tests.

EGD（EsophagoGastroDuodenoscopy）

The abbreviation EGD is standard internationally. 

It is indeed listed in the abbreviation list for the gastrointestinal journal, GIE (Gastrointestinal Endoscopy), a prestigious journal in the area of gastroenterology.

GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY Volume 94, No. 6 : 2021

conclusion：EGD is the world standard

I do not know the exact origins of each abbreviation, but I believe that during the early days of gastroscopy, as this examination became widely adopted in the country, various people have creatively used it in their own ways. 

Through my research this time, I felt that each abbreviation is the result of the wisdom, ingenuity, and efforts of those who came before us. 

Considering this, it seems that there may not be a need for everything to be standardized…

I hope this article will be helpful in your daily practice.