Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is a medical procedure that uses a lighted, flexible colonoscope to examine the inside of the entire large intestine (colon) and rectum. A camera at the tip of the colonoscope allows your doctor to screen for polyps, cancer, and other signs of intestinal problems.

Polyps are abnormal growths on the inside lining of the intestine, and while most are not cancerous, polyps still have the potential to become cancerous. If polyps are found during your procedure, your doctor can perform a biopsy immediately.

Benefits & Risks

A colonoscopy is a safe and effective procedure to screen for colon cancer and to treat colon polyps. Since most colon cancer starts as a benign polyp, removing polyps removes the possibility of them growing into cancer.

Colonoscopies help examine other problems from which a patient may be suffering, such as blood loss, abdominal or rectal pain, changes in bowel habits, or active bleeding from the bowel.

It's rare for serious complications to occur in a colonoscopy. But as with any procedure, complications are possible. These might include excessive bleeding, especially if a large polyp is removed, or a tear in the lining of the colon, which might require hospitalization or surgery.