Colonscopy

A colonoscopy is a procedure that allows your healthcare provider to look inside the large intestine, from the rectum all the way up through the colon to the lower end of the small intestine. This procedure is used to check for early signs of colon and rectum cancer and also to determine the cause of unexplained changes in bowel habits.

 

During the colonoscopy, a long, flexible, lighted tube is inserted into your rectum and slowly guided into your colon. If anything abnormal is found, like a polyp or inflamed tissue, it is removed using tiny instruments passed through the scope. The procedure is effective for finding problems with the lower digestive tract. However, it is possible that abnormal growths can be missed. This could be because of the placement and size of the growth. In some cases, it is because the bowel prep was not done well.