Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is an examination of the lower digestive tract using an instrument called a colonoscope. The colonoscope is a tube containing at the end a tiny video camera whose image is displayed directly on a video screen. This test allows the doctor to look at the wall of the large intestine along its entire length and detect changes in the mucosa such as:
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Inflammation: due to an infection or due to an underlying disease such as colitis or Crohn's.
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Benign growths called polyps.
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Malignant tumors.
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Section disease: the appearance of pockets in the intestinal wall.
The great advantage of this test is that, in addition to diagnosis, it also allows the doctor:
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remove polyps
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take tissue samples for pathological examination
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stop bleeding
The accuracy level of this test is about 95% and it allows polyps to be identified already in an early growth stage. This level of accuracy is the highest compared to the other tests, virtual colonoscopy and occult blood in the stool. The colonoscopy test is the only test that allows both diagnosis and treatment (removal of polyps) and it has the highest level of accuracy - it allows detection of polyps in an early growth stage.
When should a colonoscopy be performed?
The National Colon Cancer Prevention Program lists the cases in which a colonoscopy must be performed:
A woman or man without problems (abdominal pain, change in the nature and number of stools, rectal bleeding, positive occult blood in the stool, etc.) or a family history of colon cancer, should perform a occult blood test or colonoscopy from the age of 50 to the age of 74.
A woman or a man who has a first-degree relative with bowel cancer should undergo a colonoscopy starting at age 40, or at the earliest 10 years before the age of discovery of the disease in the relative - whichever is earlier.
Many cases of malignant diseases in the family of bowel cancer, uterine cancer or multiple polyps in the bowel, are another reason for performing tests with different frequency and timing, therefore one should contact one of the clinics for the early detection of colon cancer in order to consider performing the tests at an even younger age as well as to consider performing a genetic investigation To detect Lynch syndrome or polyposis of the intestine.
A woman or a man who received a positive occult blood test result should undergo a colonoscopy within up to 3 months from the date of the occult blood test. If it is not possible to perform the test in this period of time, it must be performed no later than 6 months.
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What is actually checked during the colonoscopy
As mentioned, through the colonoscopy, the entire colon and part of the small intestine are examined. The main purpose of the test is to check if the patient has different types of inflammation, external and internal hemorrhoids, polyps and benign or other types of tumors.
How is a colonoscopy performed?
The test will of course be performed after receiving obfuscation materials, the device is inserted into the large intestine through the anus and with a special technique advances along the entire large intestine and a small part of the small intestine. In some cases, the test is performed under general anesthesia, depending on the patient's condition.
During the examination, polyps can be excised, samples taken as required, bleeding blocked and other therapeutic operations performed.