[Value and reason for routine rectosigmoidoscopy (author's transl)]

Routine rectosigmoidoscopy was undertaken in 700 patients under surgical treatment for disease in other parts of the body. Pathological changes were found in 39 patients (5.6%): 24 with adenomatous polyps, 5 with adenopapillary polyps, 7 with infiltrating growing "carcinomatous" polyps without involvement of the muscularis mucosae, and three with carcinoma. The polyps were removed with an electric loop or haemoclip in 28, by transanal submucous excision in eight. One of the carcinoma cases was treated by resection, the other two by abdominoperineal rectal resection. The results indicate that routine rectosigmoidoscopy is of value.