Colonoscopy

Examination of the inside of the colon by means of a flexible, fibre-optic viewing instrument called a colonoscope, which is introduced through the anus and guided along the colon. Colonoscopy is used to investigate symptoms such as bleeding from the anus and to look for disorders such as colitis, polyps, and cancer. Instruments may be passed through the colonoscope to take biopsy specimens or to remove polyps.