Why is colonoscopy required

It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Why is a colonoscopy so important? School of Medicine, Family Medicine. A colonoscopy is a study in which a small, flexible camera can look at the inside wall of the colon the large bowel. It also has a biopsy device attached to it so that if there is abnormal-looking tissue or a polyp on the inside of the colon, it can remove a very small amount, which can be sent to pathology.

A colonoscopy allows gastrointestinal doctors to be able to diagnose diseases of the colon like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and colon cancer. It also enables them to screen for abnormal tissue in the colon like a polyp, which may be precancerous, and remove it before it turns into cancer. If one or two small, low-risk adenomas are removed, the exam should be repeated in five to ten years.

Ask your health care provider when and how often to have a colonoscopy if you have inflammatory bowel disease; a history of multiple, large, or high-risk adenomas; or a parent, sibling, or child who had colorectal cancer or adenomas. Make lifestyle changes. Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and less fatty foods and red or processed meat.

Get accurate test results. If you have questions, call the office and go over them with the nurse. Consider alternatives. Other tests that can find polyps and cancer, and require bowel prep, include flexible sigmoidoscopy, which uses a short tube to examine the rectum and lower colon, and CT colonography, in which a tube is inserted into the rectum and an X-ray scanner creates pictures. Visit this page to learn more about how they can help you or to schedule an appointment.

For more general inquiries, complete the form on this page. It appears you are using a browser that is no longer supported or receiving updates. As a result, this site may not view correctly. Please upgrade or install a more compliant browser like Chrome , Firefox , Safari , etc. Why Colonoscopies are Performed Colonoscopies are performed to screen for abnormalities that may include cancer. How to Identify the Warning Signs of Colorectal Cancer There are a number of symptoms that can surface, indicating possible colorectal cancer.

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