Colonoscopy
Overview:
A colonoscopy is a medical procedure or exam to check for abnormalities present in the colon (large intestine) and the rectum. It can be helpful in detecting polyps (benign growths or fragments that may develop into cancers), and abnormalities in the bowels. It is used to find the causes of the bowel symptoms you might be having, such as blood in the stool, diarrhea, and, perhaps constipation. A flexible tube, called a colonoscope, is passed through the rectum to the colon where it is used to inflate the colon by blowing air or carbon dioxide into it. Saline can also be applied for the purpose of inflation. The tube is well lubricated and has a camera at one end, through which the doctor views the colon. [1]
