FLEXIBLE SIGMOIDOSCOPY AS A SCREENING-PROCEDURE FOR NEOPLASIA OF THE COLON

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 148  (1) , 19-22
Abstract
Two hundred asymptomatic USA veterans older than 40 yr of age were evaluated with a flexible sigmoidoscope plus Hemoccult stool tests. Mean distance and time for the former were 56.4 cm and 7.4 min, respectively. There were no complications. Polyps .gtoreq. 0.5 cm in diameter were found in 11.9% of those older than 50 yr. No polyps of this size were found in patients younger than 50 yr of age. Results of Hemoccult tests were negative in 83.3% of those with polyps. A flexible sigmoidoscope is a safe, rapid and effective means of identifying that portion of the asymptomatic adult population having colonic polyps. For this purpose, it is vastly more sensitive than Hemoccult stool testing. Because of the relationship between colonic polyps and carcinoma, this technique may prove invaluable in the identification of those patients with an increased potential for the development of carcinoma of the colon.

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