What is the best colon cancer screening test?
Colonoscopy is the only method that has a high sensitivity for all polyps, both small and large, and which presents the capability of removing them at the time of the procedure. Virtual colonoscopy is a possibility for screening, but that is not yet approved. Should virtual colonoscopy become an approved screening maneuver, there is a probability of missing small or flat lesions. In addition, any abnormality which is seen will require a colonoscopic examination to verify the finding or for polyp removal. Other, newer screening procedures include testing for abnormal DNA in the stool and the possible combination of a flexible sigmoidoscopy and a barium enema, which is currently suggested if colonoscopy is not generally available. However, for the removal of polyps, there is only one procedure that is currently useful, and that is colonoscopy.
Colonoscopy is considered to be the “gold standard.” It is the only method that has a high sensitivity for all polyps, both small and large, and which presents the capability of removing them at the time of the procedure. Virtual colonoscopy is a possibility for screening, but is not yet approved. Should virtual colonoscopy become an approved screening maneuver, there is a probability of missing small or flat lesions. In addition, any abnormality which is seen will require a colonoscopic examination to verify the finding or for polyp removal. Other, newer screening procedures include testing for abnormal DNA in the stool and the possible combination of a flexible sigmoidoscopy and a barium enema, which is currently suggested if colonoscopy is not generally available. However, for the removal of polyps, there is only one procedure that is currently useful, and that is colonoscopy.
Colonoscopy is the only method that has a high sensitivity for all polyps, both small and large, and which presents the capability of removing them at the time of the procedure. Virtual colonoscopy is a possibility for screening, but it is not yet approved. Should virtual colonoscopy become an approved screening maneuver, there is a probability of missing small or flat lesions. In addition, any abnormality which is seen will require a colonoscopic examination to verify the finding or for polyp removal. Other, newer screening procedures include testing for abnormal DNA in the stool and the possible combination of a flexible sigmoidoscopy and a barium enema, which is currently suggested if colonoscopy is not generally available. However, for the removal of polyps, there is only one procedure that is currently useful, and that is colonoscopy.
Colonoscopy is the only method that has a high sensitivity for all polyps — small and large — and that can remove them during the procedure. CT colonography or virtual colonoscopy is not endorsed by ASGE because it can miss small or flat lesions. If an abnormality is seen during virtual colonoscopy, a colonoscopic examination will still be needed to verify the finding or for polyp removal. Other, newer screening procedures include testing for abnormal DNA in the stool or the combination of a flexible sigmoidoscopy and a barium enema. The barium enema is suggested if colonoscopy is not available. However, for the removal of polyps, there is only one procedure that is currently useful, and that is colonoscopy.
