is a colonoscopy really necessary for women
Colonoscopy is highly regarded, but it has risks. Patients need anesthesia for the invasive procedure. In rare cases, the colon may bleed or perforate during the colonoscopy procedure. As with many diseases, early detection of colon cancer may make a big difference to patients' survival. Colon cancer screening tests are recommended for everyone aged 50 and older; people at high risk for colorectal cancer may need to start screening earlier. Colorectal cancer is the No. 2 cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. for men and women combined, according to the American Cancer Society.
There were 941 colorectal cancer cases in which colonoscopy was used as a primary diagnostic modality. Failure to detect the cancer occurred in 47 cases, for a sensitivity of 95%. The mean age of the 47 patients was 72 years, compared to 69.8 years for the entire study group.Only 1 patient with a failed detection was under 50 years of age, and 3 were in their sixth decade.ethods: During a retrospective evaluation of the sensitivity of barium enema and colonoscopy in 20 Indiana Hospitals, we encountered 47 cases of colorectal cancer in which a colonoscopy performed within 3 years of the diagnosis had not detected the cancer.