 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
||
 |
ON CANCER, |
|
|
|||
|
Why check for colon, and what type of test? Sigmoidoscopy is a simple 30-minute procedure
with about 1 minute of pain resembling mild to moderate intestinal cramp. If
no polyps are found it needs to be performed only once every 5 years. |
|||
|
|||
|
Colorectal
cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer in the United States. It accounts for 9% of all new cancer diagnoses (130,000
new cases annually) and 11% of all cancer deaths (over 56,000 annually). Not all individuals are of equal risk. A person with
a first-degree relative with CRC has an 8% lifetime CRC risk, but with two first-degree relatives the risk increases to 17%.
Various racial and geographic factors also contribute to the risk. For example, the CRC incidence for men (per 100,000 per
year) is 8 for Miyagi, Japan, 10-17 for Europeans, 28 for Caucasians in New Orleans, and 34 for Hawaiians of Japanese decent. Many lines of data have led to the widespread
acceptance of the hypotheses that most cancers develop from colonic adenomasthe "adenoma-to-carcinoma" sequence. Removal of adenomas has been demonstrated
to be associated with a 76 to 90% reduction in the number of expected CRC cases.
If detected early, CRC is a very curable disease. The expected 5 year cancer-free survival for a Dukes-Turnbull Class "A"
patient is 95%. . Fecal
occult blood testing has been shown in three randomized trials to reduce CRC mortality
from 15 to 33% in the general population Virtual colonoscopy
(or CT colonography) is an x-ray technique using high-speed CT scanning and complex software to obtain a two dimensional image
of the colon. Colonoscopy involves the direct visualization of the surface
of the colon using high-resolution video equipment. Video colonoscopy
is at least 100 times as sensitive at visualizing small objects. For example, it can accurately image a hair fiber while the
current resolution of virtual colonoscopy often misses objects less than 10 mm in diameter. In a study published in June of 2001, participants were screened with both methods, and virtual
colonoscopy missed 30 % of the polyps seen on video colonoscopy! It cannot view
the surface of the colon. Polyps cannot beremoved during the x-ray technique,
but can during a colonoscopy. The American Cancer
Society does not currently advocate virtual colonoscopy as a screening technique. The reported
miss rate for polyps varies with the size of the polyp. For example, for those less than 5 mm, the miss rate can be as high
as 16-27%; for 6-9 mm polyps, 12-13% will be missed; and for those greater than 10mm, the miss rate is 0-6%. Complications
of colonoscopy are unusual but can include perforation (0.14 0.25%), bleeding (0.7 2.5%), and death (less than 0.02%). However, virtual colonoscopy machines fail to detect nearly 10% of polyps measuring
10mm or less in diameter, and miss about 5% for those greater than 10 mm. Asymptomatic
individuals with no risk factors for colon cancer should undergo colonoscopy starting at age 50 years and every 10 years thereafter.
For those found to have adenomas, especially adenomas 10mm or larger in size,
follow-up colonoscopy should be performed every 3 years. For those with villous polyps, colonoscopy is advised every 2 years.
For those found to have CRC, colonoscopy is advised one year after the initial cancer is removed, and then every 2 years until
year 5, after which colonoscopy is performed every 3 years. Approximately 25-30%
of CRC is "familial" or associated with known genetic syndromes. The remainder are said to be "sporadic". The most common genetic cause is HNPCC which arises from mutations in one of five mismatch repair genes (MMR), with 95% being a mutation of either MLH1 or MLH2 genes.
Moreover with HNPCC there is a 40% risk of uterine cancer. With HNPCC
the average age of CRC is 44 years and 80% have CRC by 65 years. The shorter
flexible Sigmoidoscopy should be repeated every 3-5 years. If polyps are found
then the longer colonoscopy is performed. Colonoscopy
is generally performed using a technique called conscious sedation or “ twilight sleep”. A mixture of drugs are
given to achieve comfort and sedation. The colonoscope itself is a sterilized flexible tube measuring approximately ½ inch
in diameter. The procedure takes less than 30 minutes and the majority of patients, given the proper medications do not remember
the test. Of course, the entire exam is performed under the direct supervision of a sub specialist physician. For virtual
colonoscopy, a rubber catheter is inserted in the rectum and the colon is then inflated with
air by a technician. Maximal inflation of the colon with air, limited by patient tolerance, is necessary in order to
achieve adequate visualization of the wall of the colon. No medications are given, and the procedure is not generally monitored
by a sub specialist physician for quality or comfort during the exam. It is generally compared to a barium enema. From http://www.borland-groover.com/coloncancer2002.htm Colon Cancer Test Disappoints A
computer-assisted screening test for colon cancer is gaining popularity because it is minimally invasive, but a new study
has found it isn't yet ready for widespread use. The
researchers discovered the accuracy of the virtual colonoscopy in detecting cancers is substantially lower than that of conventional
colonoscopy. And they suggest the use of the technique should be limited until both technology and training are improved. "The
accuracy of this technique was surprising and disappointing," said lead researcher Dr. Peter B. Cotton, director of the Digestive
Disease Center at the Medical University of South Carolina. This study was different
from ...... Sigmoidoscopy (Anoscopy, Proctoscopy) Anoscopy, proctoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy tests allow a health professional
to look inside the anus, rectum, and the lower part of the large intestine (colon) for abnormal growths
(such as tumors or polyps), inflammation, bleeding, hemorrhoids, and other conditions (such as diverticulosis). See illustrations of a hemorrhoid The colon is 5 ft(1.5 m) to 6 ft(1.8 m) long. Sigmoidoscopy
is a thorough examination of the last 2 ft(0.6 m) of the lower colon (sigmoid colon). Sigmoidoscopy is most commonly used
to screen for colon cancer. About half of all colon tumors and polyps can be found using sigmoidoscopy. These examinations are done using different viewing instruments that
are inserted into the anus, rectum, or colon. Colonoscopy Colonoscopy allows a doctor to look at the interior lining of the large intestine The colonoscope is a thin, flexible scope that ranges from 48 in.(121.9
cm) to 72 in.(182.9 cm) long. A small video camera is attached to the colonoscope so that photographic, electronic, or videotaped
images of the large intestine can be made. In some cases, the colonoscope may use fiber optics. However, digital video technology
has generally replaced fiber optics. The colonoscope can be used to view the entire colon as well as a small portion of the
lower small intestine. Another test called sigmoidoscopy shows only the rectum and the lower third of the colon.
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
Enter supporting content here
INTERNAL SITE SEARCH ENGINE by Google
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ |
|||