In conclusion, many polyps are missed during colonoscopy, causing an economic burden. When analyzing the factors related to missed polyps, we found that male patients and those with a history of polyps are at an increased risk of missed polyps.
Colonoscopic polypectomy is the best diagnostic and therapeutic tool to detect and prevent colorectal neoplasms. However, previous studies have reported that 17% to 28% of colorectal polyps are missed during colonoscopy.
The rate at which precancerous colorectal polyps is missed has been estimated to be 25%. In this study, the miss rate was 15.5% in the group that had the AI colonoscopy first.
As patients, we assume that a colonoscopy will always detect any cancer and any polyps. However, in reality, things are just not that simple. Tumours and polyps can look different in each patient and at different stages of their growth or be obscured from the view of the camera.
Most polyps found during a colonoscopy can be removed safely and effectively during the procedure. In some cases, however, a colonoscopy can reveal that there are polyps too large to safely remove. These are complex polyps, which make up about 10-15% of all polyps, and usually require additional procedures to remove.
Depending on their size and location in the colon, serrated polyps may become cancerous. Small, serrated polyps in the lower colon, also known as hyperplastic polyps, are rarely malignant. Larger serrated polyps, which are typically flat (sessile), difficult to detect and located in the upper colon, are precancerous.
Can a colonoscopy detect stomach problems? No, a colonoscopy only shows your lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which is your large intestine and anus. Your stomach is part of your upper GI, along with your esophagus and small intestine. A gastroscopy, also called an upper endoscopy, is used to examine your upper GI.
Drinks that contain red, purple, or blue coloring can stain the walls of your colon. During your colonoscopy, these stains can interfere with the test and look like blood or other abnormalities. To ensure you get accurate results, physicians ask that you avoid drinks with certain coloring during your colonoscopy prep.
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy estimates that only three in 1,000 colonoscopies leads to serious complications. But even when serious complications arise, it is exceedingly rare that they are life-threatening, and doctors are well-trained to treat any complications with proven methods.
In most cases, no. Your doctor can't usually tell, simply by looking at a polyp during a colonoscopy, if it's cancerous. But if a polyp is found during your colonoscopy, your doctor will remove it and send it to a lab for a biopsy to check for cancerous or precancerous cells.
Rectal polyps can be felt during an examination by a doctor. Most often they are discovered when a patient undergoes endoscopy. Because rectal polyps are often multiple and may be present with cancer, a complete colonoscopy is necessary.
Raised polyps are well-recognized growths in the colon that gastroenterologists routinely remove before the abnormal tissue might turn into cancer. They are easy to find and easy to remove. But flat polyps are difficult for doctors to detect.
A colonoscopy procedure typically takes 30-60 minutes, depending on whether the doctor needs to remove polyps or take biopsies. However, patients and caregivers should plan to spend 2-3 hours total at the hospital or endoscopy center to account for the time needed for preparation and recovery.
Current guidelines suggest that you get your first colonoscopy at age 45 if you are at average risk for colorectal cancer. If no polyps are found, you won't need another colonoscopy for another 10 years. But in certain situations, you may need a colonoscopy more often.
While the majority of colon cancers start as polyps, only 5-10% of all polyps will become cancerous.
The biggest culprits that will show up in a colonoscopy and obscure our view are foods like nuts, seeds and high-fiber cereals. You also want to avoid granola, coconut, dried fruit and fresh fruit with the skin on, like apples and pears, or fruit with seeds, like strawberries and raspberries.
What if I've taken all my preparation and am still passing solid stool on the day of my exam? In this case, your procedure will need to be rescheduled. You may be prescribed a different preparation for your next procedure. Please call the triage nurse to reschedule your procedure with a different preparation.
Bleeding is one of the most common complications of colonoscopy, accounting for 0.3-6.1% of cases[35,36].
Instead of preventing 90 percent of cancers, as some doctors have told patients, colonoscopies might actually prevent more like 60 percent to 70 percent. “This is a really dramatic result,” said Dr. David F. Ransohoff, a gasteroenterologist at the University of North Carolina.
Your colonoscopy result
You should get a letter or a call with your results 2 to 3 weeks after a colonoscopy. If a GP sent you for the test, they should also get a copy of your results. Call the hospital if you have not heard anything after 3 weeks.
We're lucky to have such a good screening test for colon cancer - colonoscopy can not only detect tumors while they're curable, but it can identify precancerous polyps which can be removed before they become cancerous.
Common Symptoms of Colon Polyps
Changes in Bowel Movements – Sometimes colon polyps can lead to constipation or diarrhea that persists for longer than a week, as well as general changes in bowel habits.
Most polyps do not cause symptoms. When they do, the most common symptom is bleeding from the rectum. A large polyp may cause cramps, abdominal pain, obstruction, or intussusception.
Stool tests.
Currently, three types of stool tests are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to screen for colorectal cancer: guaiac FOBT (gFOBT); the fecal immunochemical (or immunohistochemical) test (FIT, also known as iFOBT); and multitargeted stool DNA testing (also known as FIT-DNA).