Colonoscopy

Why It Is Done

Colonoscopy is done to:

• Find problems or diseases of the anus, rectum, or colon. These tests are often done to because you have had problems such as bleeding from the rectum, ongoing diarrhea or constipation, blood or pus in the stool (feces), or ongoing lower belly pain.
• Check the colon after abnormal results from a stool test or a barium enema test.
• Check for colorectal cancer or polyps.
  • Most experts, including the American Gastroenterological Association, recommend that people with no risk factors for colorectal cancer start screening tests at age 50.
  • The American Gastroenterological Association recommends that people with a family history of colon cancer have a colonoscopy at age 40, or 10 years before the age that the relative got cancer.
  • If you are at increased risk for colon cancer, talk to your doctor about which test is best for you and how often you should have the test.

Colonoscopy also may be done to:

• Check for colon or rectal cancer that has come back in people who had treatment.
• Watch the growth of polyps that cannot be completely removed.
• See whether treatment of inflammatory bowel disease is working.
• Take out polyps or take tissue samples (biopsy).
• Take out foreign bodies.
• Check for the cause of chronic diarrhea.
• Check for the cause of bleeding inside the colon.

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Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: September 1, 2006
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Peter J. Kahrilas, MD - Gastroenterology
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