PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Lyndee Knox
AU  - Ricardo G. Hahn
AU  - Christianne Lane
TI  - A Comparison of Unsedated Colonoscopy and Flexible Sigmoidoscopy in the Family Medicine Setting: An LA Net Study
AID  - 10.3122/jabfm.2007.05.060175
DP  - 2007 Sep 01
TA  - The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
PG  - 444--450
VI  - 20
IP  - 5
4099  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/20/5/444.short
4100  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/20/5/444.full
SO  - J Am Board Fam Med2007 Sep 01; 20
AB  - Background: Colonoscopy visualizes more of the colon than flexible sigmoidoscopy. This study compares the outcomes of an unsedated modified colon endoscopy (MCE) with flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) in family medicine practice.Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of existing clinical data to compare outcomes for 48 patients undergoing MCE and 35 patients undergoing FS at 3 family medicine practices in Los Angeles. Outcomes of interest included completion rates, number of complications, depth reached, anatomic site visualized, and information about the number and nature of clinical findings.Results: No significant differences were found between MCE and FS regarding completion rates (83.3% vs 75%, respectively). Expected statistically significant differences were found between the 2 procedures in the anatomic site visualized (P < .01) and depth reached (P < .01). Clinical pathologies were identified in 58% of MCE patients and 37% of FS patients. Four adenocarcinomas were identified in the MCE group in the proximal region of the colon that could not have been detected by FS.Conclusions: Findings from this study suggest that MCE can be an acceptable alternative to FS in office settings for colorectal cancer screening.