A hard look at colonoscopy

The fiberoptic colonscope represents a significant diagnostic and therapeutic acheivement in the management of colonic disease. Despite some claims to the contrary, it is not universally simple, rapid, thorough, reliable, and inexpensive or without morbidity and mortality. Until these goals are achieved through future refinements, modifications, and new instrumentation, it is strongly recommended that the indications for colonscopy be sharply defined to include the following: (1) Investigation of colonic lesions seen on two successive or one air-contrast barium enema examination. Pedunculated polyps less than 1 cm in diameter can be observed. (2) Preoperative investigation of patients with demonstrable colorectal cancer (to rule out synchronous lesions). (3) Postoperative evaluation after colectomy for carcinoma where the anastomosis is above the reach of a sigmoidoscope. (4) Evaluation of patients with inflammatory bowel disease of the colon. (5) Investigation of persistent occult or gross rectal bleeding when anoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, and barium studies are negative. Patients who represent prohibitive surgical risks because of age or systemic disease should not be considered as candidates for colonoscopy without compelling indications. The decision to biopsy rather than remove or fulgerate a detected lesion must be left to the judgment and experience of the endoscopist. The morbidity that follows polypectomy or fulgeration of sessile lesions less than 0.5 cm in diameter probably exceeds the incidence of carcinoma.