Colonoscopy in the Diagnosis of Unexplained Rectal Bleeding

Annals of SurgeryPublished 1 July 1980Open access

Edward Brand, B.H. Sullivan, Michael Sivak, George B. Rankin

DOI10.1097/00000658-198007000-00019

Citations46

TL;DR

Major lesions were found in 30% including polyps having a diameter of 0.5 cm or larger in 14%, carcinoma in 8%, and a small number of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, vascular formations, and radiation colitis.

Abstract

Three hundred six patients with unexplained rectal bleeding were examined by colonoscopy. Significant lesions were found in 30% including polyps having a diameter of 0.5 cm or larger in 14%, carcinoma in 8%, and a small number of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, vascular formations, and radiation colitis. Colonoscopic findings in a large subgroup of patients with diverticulosis established by barium enema did not differ significantly from those of the group as a whole. Significant lesions were also identified in 22% of small subsets of patients with occult bleeding or unexplained melena.

Keywords

Medicine

Annals of Internal MedicineColonoscopic Evaluation of Rectal Bleeding

107 Citations1978Francis J. Tedesco, JEROME D. WAYE +3 more

Colonoscopy should be done in patients with rectal bleeding or anemia and occult blood in the stool who have had negative proctosigmoidoscopies and single-contrast barium studies interpreted as normal or showing diverticula, and patients with carcinoma found in this group.

RadiologyComparison of Barium Enema and Colonoscopy in the Detection of Small Colonic Polyps

101 Citations1977Ruedi F. Thoeni, Leslie S. Menuck

It is concluded that the double-contrast barium enema offers a definite advantage in the right colon and in general the two methods are complementary.

The American Journal of SurgeryComparison of colonoscopy and the contrast enema in five hundred patients with colorectal disease

100 Citations1975William I. Wolff, Hiromi Shinya +3 more

Colonoscopy and the contrast enema are best reported as completmentary rather than competitive approaches, and by their combined use, diagnostic accuracy is greatly enhanced.

GastroenterologyColonoscopy

76 Citations1975Bergein F. Overholt

The technique of colonoscopy has introduced an exciting new modality for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the colon that has been offered in the last decade and should indeed prove exciting.

BMJColonoscopy for unexplained rectal bleeding.

68 Citations1978E.T. Swarbrick, D. I. Fevre +3 more

Colonoscopy can contribute positively to the investigation and treatment of unexplained rectal bleeding and may prevent unnecessary laparotomy.

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JAMADetection of Colon Carcinoma and the Barium Enema

59 Citations1974Roscoe E. Miller

The recent introduction of fiber colonoscopy is a helpful diagnostic addition in detection of cancer of the colon, however, the expense of this examination is far greater than that of a barium enema, and the number of instruments available, as well as of skilled doctors, isfar greater.

The LancetCOLONOSCOPY FOR INVESTIGATION OF UNEXPLAINED RECTAL BLEEDING

52 Citations1978R H Teague, J R Thornton +3 more

The results emphasise the importance of rectal bleeding as a symptom of colonic abnormality and the value of colonscopy in its investigation in patients where the results of radiology are negative.