New Colonoscopy study - going ALL the way

[Guest guest]

Every colonoscopy I've had/seen (at least since they

started using cameras has ended at the ileocecal valve (the

sphincter muscle situated at the junction of the small intestine -

ileum, and the large intestine). I thought this would have been posted

by now, but since it hasn't...

Colonoscopy Has a 'Right Side' Blind Spot

By Alan Mozes

HealthDay Reporter

Monday, December 15, 2008; 12:00 AM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/15/AR2008121502200.html

SOURCES: Baxter, M.D., Ph.D., colorectal surgeon, division of

general surgery, St. 's Hospital, University of Toronto; Judith

, M.D., section chief, gastroenterology, VA Medical Center, and

associate professor, medicine, Oregon Health and Sciences University,

Portland; Dec. 16, 2008, ls of Internal Medicine, online

While a colonoscopy is a very effective procedure for combating

colorectal cancer, it may not be quite as good as previously thought, a

new study suggests.

The procedure does a good job of detecting early signs of disease on

the left side of the colon, or large intestine, but is not as effective

at spotting potential problems of the right side of the organ. This

means a colonoscopy's success at preventing colorectal cancer deaths

seems to lie with its ability to uncover so-called "left-sided"

problems...

Arne