The scope has a video camera which transmits an image of the inside of the colon, so the physician can carefully examine the lining of the colon. The high quality picture from the colonoscope is shown on a TV monitor, and gives a clear, detailed view of the colon. The scope bends, so the physician can move it around the curves of your colon. You may be asked to change position occasionally to help the physician move the scope. If there is bleeding in the colon, the physician can pass a laser, heater probe, or electrical probe, or inject special medicines, through the scope and use it to stop the bleeding.
Colonoscopy is generally more precise than an X-ray study.
By the use of this important study, colonoscopy may help to avoid surgery or to better tell what type of surgery may need to be performed. A shorter version of colonoscopy is called a sigmoidoscopy. A similar but shorter instrument used to screen the lower part of the large bowel only. The colonoscope, however, is long enough to inspect all of the large bowel and sometimes even the last part of the small intestine. In addition to checking for colon cancer, colonoscopy is very important in the treatment and observation of colon polyps - abnormal growths on the inside lining of the intestine.