Diagnostic Endoscopy - Colonoscopy
A preventative or screening colonoscopy is performed on a patient who does not have any gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, bleeding per rectum, etc. This patient is also typically 50 years of age or older and has no personal or family history of colon polyps and/or cancer. It is done to make sure that the colon is healthy and properly functioning.
A diagnostic colonoscopy is performed on a patient who has gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, etc. A patient who has past and/or present polyps, gastrointestinal disease or family history of colon cancer/polyps would also undergo diagnostic colonoscopy.
