Fibrecolonoscopy

While the high incidence of colonic diseases is stressed, the lack of absolute effective diagnostic procedures is emphasized. The introduction of fibrecolonoscopy has a greatly increased diagnostic accuracy. A study of 120 fibrecolonoscopies in 111 patients is presented. The procedure proved reasonably simple without undue discomfort or complications to patients. The majority of examinations were accomplished as an out-patient procedure. The range of examinations included the viewing of the full length of the colon. Polyps were found in 26 and carcinoma in 10 patients. Fifty-seven patients presented with rectal bleeding; 80% of these were found to have an organic lesion to account for the bleeding, and 65% of these lesions were benign or malignant neoplasms. It is noteworthy that a substantial number of polyps were not demonstrated on X-ray examination, and three of the carcinomas could not be demonstrated by sigmoidoscopy or barium enema X-ray examination. On the other hand, the radio-logically founded suspicion of carcinoma was dispelled by colonoscopy in nine patients. From the experience gained In the present series of examinations, the outstanding value of fibrecolonoscopy is substantiated. Lesions are not only clearly visualized, but their nature can be confirmed by biopsy. It is foreseen that in the not too distant future fibrecolonoscopy will become the single, most significant investigational procedure in colonic diseases.