[Rectoscopies in a family medicine clinic]

As part of an ongoing quality-control program, a retrospective survey of all rigid rectoscopies performed by a family physician as a diagnostic procedure in 1985-1986 was undertaken. 35 men and 27 women were examined after an average wait of 2.5 days. Most were referred because of rectal bleeding. 3 malignant and 4 benign rectal tumors were diagnosed. In cases with no pathological finding, a subsequent barium enema and/or colonoscopy resulted in the diagnosis of 2 more proximal cancers. This frequency of tumors is relatively high compared with other series, in which there had not been systematic screening for early detection of colonic cancer. There were no complications of the rectoscopies. This survey strengthens our impression that rectoscopy can be carried out effectively by the family physician in the clinic.