Diagnostic Services
Learn about...Colonoscopy at GCMC
The Purpose of the Procedure
Insurance Coverage
Preparation for the Procedure
The Day of the Procedure
The Colonoscope
The Procedure
What the Physician Sees
After the Procedure
Home Again and Discussion of Test Results
Summary
The Purpose of the Procedure
During a colonoscopy the surgeon is able to examine the entire colon, from the lowest part, the rectum, all the way up through the entire colon to the lower end of the small intestine. This procedure is most commonly performed when examinations and diagnostic testing have not fully explained the patient's symptoms. In addition, colonoscopy is frequently used as a screening procedure for the early detection of colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. However, when detected in its earliest stages, colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable and curable cancers.
Colonoscopy Procedure
A screening colonoscopy can help prevent colorectal cancer by detecting polyps. Polyps are wart-like growths on the inside of the bowel that occur most commonly in the lower areas. A colonoscopy is the preferred method of detecting polyps as they may be missed or be too small to be seen on an x-ray. Polyps that are detected during a colonoscopy can often be removed through the colonoscope. With early removal, they usually do not become cancerous.
According to the American Cancer Society, if colorectal cancer is detected early and appropriately treated, the five-year survival rate is approximately 90 percent
Colorectal cancer usually strikes men and woman over the age of 50 (90 percent of cases). Therefore, screening is recommended for all adults age 50 or older who have no risk factors.
Patients at increased risk for developing colorectal cancer need to be screened earlier and more frequently. Those considered at high risk include those who have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer, polyps, or have an inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Screening procedures other than a colonoscopy are the fecal occult blood test, the flexible sigmoidoscopy, and the double-contrast barium enema.