Endoscope, endoscopic apparatus, and examination method using endoscope

An endoscopic apparatus for observing an inside of a body cavity, comprising:

• an endoscope including an operation unit, an insert section, extending from the operation unit toward a distal end, to be inserted into the body cavity, an illumination window for directing illumination light therethrough and an observation window for observing an illuminated internal portion of the body cavity, arranged at a distal end portion of the insert section;
• a light source configured to emit visible-light illumination light and narrow-band illumination light through the illumination window;
• an observation mode switch for selectively outputting the visible-light illumination light and the narrow-band illumination light set in at least a wavelength region of blue;
• a blood flow changing section formed at the distal end portion independently of the visible-light illumination light and the narrow-band illumination light outputted through the illumination window, for increasing a blood flow of blood flowing through a vessel by thermally heating the blood in a near-surface region of a living organ inside the body cavity;
• and
• a control device configured to automatically turn on the blood flow changing section to increase the blood flow by switching from the visible-light illumination light to the narrow-band illumination light in response to actuation of the observation mode switch, and configured to automatically turn off the blood flow changing section halting the increase in the blood flow by switching from the narrow-band illumination light to the visible-light illumination light in response to actuation of the observation mode switch.