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Published on: October 16, 2013
Diagnostic yield of colonoscopy based on symptoms
Anders Lasson1, Anders Kilander, Per-Ove Stotzer
1Department of Internal Medicine, Borås Hospital, Borås, Sweden. anders.lasson@vgregion.se
Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology
|October 22, 2008
Summary
Colonoscopy offers a high diagnostic yield for bleeding or diarrhea symptoms, revealing significant colonic pathology. However, for other gastrointestinal issues, findings are comparable to screening populations.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Colorectal Cancer Screening
- Diagnostic Yield
Background:
- Limited data exists on the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy across diverse gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Understanding symptom-specific outcomes is crucial for optimizing colonoscopy utility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy in patients presenting with various gastrointestinal symptoms.
- To determine the relationship between colonoscopic findings and the presenting symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 767 colonoscopies was conducted over one year, excluding asymptomatic individuals and those with known inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Patient symptoms, colonoscopic findings, and their clinical correlation were systematically recorded.
Main Results:
- In patients with bleeding symptoms (n=405), significant colonic pathologies (cancers, large adenomas, IBD, angiodysplasia) were identified in 13.3% to 20.5% of cases.
- For non-bloody diarrhea (n=173), the diagnostic yield was 31.2%, primarily IBD and microscopic colitis.
- In patients with other gastrointestinal symptoms (n=189), the diagnostic yield was lower at 13.2%, with serious pathology found in only 2.2%.
Conclusions:
- Colonoscopy demonstrates a high diagnostic yield in patients experiencing bleeding symptoms or diarrhea.
- For patients with other gastrointestinal symptoms, the prevalence of significant findings on colonoscopy is similar to that observed in screening populations.
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