Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy is a test which allows the doctor to look directly at the lining of the large bowel (the colon).
In order to do the test a colonoscope is carefully passed through the anus into the large bowel. The colonoscope is a long flexible tube, about the thickness of your index finger, with a bright light at the end. Looking down the tube, the doctor gets a clear view of the lining of the bowel and check whether any disease is present.
Sometimes the doctor takes a biopsy (a sample of the bowel lining). A small piece of tissue is removed painlessly through the colonoscope, using tiny forceps. This is then sent to the laboratory for further tests.
We will soon be adding detailed patient information about this procedure.