Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is the most widely used testing method to study the colon and rectum. It has the highest diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of all available tests, making it the "gold standard" for the diagnosis of colorectal abnormalities. A long, flexible, slender tube, attached to a video camera and monitor, is used to view the inside of the colon. In most studies, 90 to 95 percent of the colon can be examined.

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The patient prepares for the procedure by drinking special fluids and/or using laxatives to remove stool from the bowel. Intravenous painkillers and sedation are administered during the examination, which usually takes an hour or less. The test carries a very small risk of complications, including hemorrhage and perforation of the colon wall. If a polyp is found during the procedure, the doctor may remove all or part of it through the scope so that tissues can be examined later for the presence of cancer cells.