Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 20, 2026
How to Administer Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Critically ill Neonates, Infants, and Children
Published on: August 19, 2020
Current role of colonoscopy in infants and young children: a multicenter study
Ryusuke Nambu1, Shin-Ichiro Hagiwara2, Fumihiko Kakuta3
1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saitama Children's Medical Center, 1-2 Shintoshin, Chuo-ku, Saitama-city, Saitama, 330-8777, Japan. nambee1231@gmail.com.
Insights
Colonoscopy is valuable in diagnosing gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) in young children. This procedure is crucial for identifying conditions such as IBD and EGIDs in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Diagnostic Endoscopy
Background:
- Colonoscopy's utility in infants and young children requires evaluation.
- Understanding the spectrum of diseases necessitating colonoscopy in this demographic is important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the role of colonoscopy in pediatric patients under six years old.
- To determine the prevalence of diseases requiring colonoscopy in infants and young children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of colonoscopies performed at three Japanese children's hospitals (April 2011-March 2016).
- Inclusion criteria: infants and children under six years of age.
Main Results:
- 453 colonoscopies were performed in 276 children; 60.8% were diagnostic, 39.2% were follow-up.
- Abnormal findings were present in 77.1% of diagnostic procedures.
- Key diagnoses included eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) (23%), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (18.5%), and polyps/polyposis (14%).
- EGIDs were more prevalent in younger children (<2 years) with rectal bleeding, while IBD and polyps were less common.
- 68% of follow-up colonoscopies were for children with IBD.
Conclusions:
- Colonoscopy is effective for diagnosing IBD, EGIDs, and polyps/polyposis in infants and young children.
- Given the rising incidence of IBD and EGIDs globally, the importance of pediatric colonoscopy is increasing.
- No serious complications were reported, highlighting the procedure's safety in this cohort.
Background:
To evaluate the role of colonoscopy in infants and young children and clarify the distribution of colonoscopy-requiring diseases in this age group.
Methods:
Cohorts of colonoscopies performed at three children's hospitals in Japan between April 2011 and March 2016 including infants and children younger than six years of age were retrospectively reviewed.
Results:
In total, 453 colonoscopies were performed in 276 infants and young children. Of these 275 (60.8%) were for diagnostic purposes, 177 (39.2%) were performed as follow-up, and one case was performed for treatment. The median patient age at the time of diagnostic colonoscopy was 2.49 years, and there was a male-to-female ratio of 1.72:1. Abnormal macroscopic and/or histopathological findings were noted in 212 (77.1%) cases. Of these, definite diagnoses were established for the presence of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and polyp/polyposis in 23, 18.5, and 14% of patients, respectively. Among 51 IBD cases, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and IBD-unclassified were identified in 47.1, 33.3, and 7.8%, retrospectively via endoscopic examination. Of these, 11 (22%) were eventually diagnosed with monogenic diseases via genetic testing. Of those with rectal bleeding, EGIDs, polyps/polyposis, and IBD were found in 27, 19, and 18%, retrospectively. There were significantly more cases of EGIDs and fewer ones of IBD and polyps/polyposis in patients with rectal bleeding younger than two years of age. Furthermore, 68% of all follow-up colonoscopies were performed in children with IBD. There were no serious complications in our study cohort.
Conclusion:
We determined the role of colonoscopy in infants and young children. Diseases diagnosed using colonoscopy in this age group included IBD, EGIDs, and polyps/polyposis. The increasing trend of patients with IBD and EGIDs worldwide means that the role of colonoscopy in infants and younger children will be more important in the future.
More Related Videos
07:31Defining the Role Of Language in Infants' Object Categorization with Eye-tracking Paradigms
Published on: February 8, 2019
08:38Electroretinogram Recording for Infants and Children under Anesthesia to Achieve Optimal Dark Adaptation and International Standards
Published on: September 3, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
01:26Imaging Studies III: Gastrointestinal Motility Studies and Virtual Colonoscopy
Radionuclide Testing
Radionuclide testing is a sophisticated medical technique for assessing gastrointestinal motility. It focuses on gastric emptying and colonic transit time. Radioactive markers track the movement of food through the digestive system, providing insights into gastrointestinal disorders.
In gastric emptying studies, a meal's liquid and...
01:25Endoscopic Procedures II: Colonoscopy
01:10Electrical Current
01:23The Role of Culture
01:02Role of Septins
Cellular Functions of Septins
Recent studies have revealed the multifaceted roles of septins in various cellular processes such as cytokinesis, ciliogenesis, and neurogenesis. Septins act as scaffolds and...