In a Boston Globe news report, Dr. Saltzman said colonoscopy is a better way to screen for colon cancer than sigmoidoscopy because the latter modality has several disadvantages, including a limited view of the colon. While sigmoidoscopy only examines the bottom third of a patient’s colon, colonoscopy is the only modality that screens the entire colon.
Dr. Abramson disagreed, saying there is a need for more “well-performed scientific studies” that prove colonoscopy is the better screening modality. Additionally, sigmoidoscopy does not require laxatives, which can be uncomfortable for patients, and amounts to only one-tenth of the cost of a colonoscopy. Because sigmoidoscopy doesn’t require anesthesia, there is also a lowered risk of perforation of the colon, Dr. Abramson said.
Read the news report about colonoscopy versus sigmoidoscopy.
Read other coverage about colorectal cancer screening:
– Massachusetts Hospital Utilizes New Method for Detecting Colorectal Cancer
– Detection of Premalignant Colon Polyps Stable Throughout Workday Under Certain Conditions
– Position Changes During Colonoscope Withdrawal Can Increase Adenoma Detection Rate
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