Study of Colorectal Pathology Using Colonoscopy

Abstract

Colonic pathology has undergone a true revolution in its diagnostic and therapeutic management thanks to colonoscopy, improving lesion detection and allowing for appropriate treatment. This was a retrospective, descriptive study from August 2018 to June 2021 in the clinics. The study included all patients who underwent colonoscopy in the study centers, excluding all incomplete colonoscopies where no lesion was visualized beforehand. Data were collected from colonoscopy and pathology report registers. During the study period, 450 colonoscopies met our inclusion criteria, and 297 of them showed a lesion, representing 66% of pathological colonoscopies. Men predominated with an average age of 42.4 ± 12.8 years. Rectal bleeding and diarrhea were the most common indications for colonoscopy, occurring in 35.8% and 27.5% of cases, respectively. Macroscopically, polyps (25.3%), colitis (22.2%), and malignant tumors (19.5%) were the most frequent findings. Most lesions were located in the rectum (29.3%) and the sigmoid colon (18.2%). Histologically, benign tubular polyps, inflammatory colitis, and Lieberkühn adenocarcinoma were predominant. Colorectal pathology is not rare in our context, with a frequency of 66%. Colonoscopy is an effective and relatively accessible diagnostic tool in our setting. Proper patient preparation is necessary to explore the entire colon.