sigmoidoscopy

Examples of sigmoidoscopy in the following topics:

• Polyps in the Colon

  • Common screening methods are digital rectal examination (DRE), sigmoidoscopy (usually using a flexible endoscope, but, more rarely, using a rigid endoscope), lower gastrointestinal series (barium enema), colonoscopy, and virtual colonoscopy .
  • If an adenomatous polyp is found with sigmoidoscopy or if a polyp is found with any other diagnostic modality, the patient must undergo colonoscopy for removal of the polyp(s).
  • Persons in their 50's are recommended to have flexible sigmoidoscopies performed once every three to five years to detect any abnormal growth which could be an adenomatous polyp.
  • Colonoscopies are preferred over sigmoidoscopies because they allow the examination of the entire colon, a very important aspect considering that more than half of the colonic polyps occur in the upper colon which is not reached during sigmoidoscopies.

• Colorectal Cancer

  • Localized bowel cancer is usually diagnosed through sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy.
  • The three main screening tests are fecal occult blood testing, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy.
  • In the United States screening is recommended between the age of 50 and 75 years with sigmoidoscopy every five years and colonoscopy every 10 years.

• Occult Blood

  • In the event of a positive fecal occult blood test, the next step in the workup is a form of visualization of the gastrointestinal tract by one of several means: sigmoidoscopy, an examination of the rectum and lower colon with a lighted instrument to look for abnormalities, such as polyps; colonoscopy, a more thorough examination of the rectum and entire colon; virtual colonoscopy; endoscopy refers to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy sometimes performed with chromoendoscopy; and double contrast barium enema: a series of X-rays of the colon and rectum.