Sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy are both procedures that allow doctors to view the inside of the colon. Sigmoidoscopy examines the lower third while colonoscopy examines the entire colon. Both require preparation and may involve sedation. Colonoscopy is more thorough and may be better for detecting colon cancer.
Both sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy provide the doctor with a view of the inside of the colon, with colonoscopy looking at the entire colon and sigmoidoscopy a view of only the lower third. A doctor may recommend sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy to screen a patient for colon cancer, evaluate a patient with a digestive tract disorder, or perform a procedure such as polyp removal. Sigmoidoscopy takes less time and is less invasive, while colonoscopy is more thorough and may be more appropriate for some cases.
The preparation for both sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy is the same. The patient may need to stop taking certain medications such as blood thinners and must spend the day before the procedure on a special diet. Your doctor may also prescribe laxatives. The goal of the medication and diet is to clean out the colon so your doctor can get a good picture. This process is often uncomfortable for patients, but necessary for a successful test.
On the day of the sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, the patient will go to the hospital or clinic. For a colonoscopy, the patient may be placed under general anesthesia or sedation. Patients scheduled for a sigmoidoscopy may receive light sedation to keep them comfortable. The patient lies in a position that will expose the rectum, and the doctor introduces a long, flexible tube with an attached camera. The doctor advances the tube into the colon to evaluate it, and also looks at the exiting colon.
In sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy exams, doctors look for any signs of abnormalities such as patches of tissue that look different, polyps, pockets, and so on. If your doctor sees anything that looks suspicious, a sample may need to be taken. Your doctor may recommend a follow-up exam with a rigid tube to allow for the removal of the polyp in some cases. Any material removed during the test can be evaluated by a pathologist to determine if it is carcinogenic.
The most important difference between sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy is that the sigmoidoscopy test examines only a third of the colon, while colonoscopy provides a complete view. If a doctor has particular concerns about colon cancer risk, colonoscopy may be a better option for a patient. This test takes longer and is more invasive, but may get better results. If there is cancerous material along the length of the colon, the colonoscopy is more likely to catch it.
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