OBJECTIVE: To analyze colonoscopy indications and the finding of polyps and colorectal neoplasms.
METHODS: A retrospective study of colonoscopies reports that were performed between January, 2009 and March, 2010. The analyzed variables included: age, gender, indication for examination, and found of polyp or tumor. The statistical analysis was accomplished with the chi-square test, with significance at p<0.05.
RESULTS: Four hundred and ninety-three colonoscopy reports of patients between 18 and 94 years, mean age 56.7 years old, and 54% female, were reviewed. The examinations had one or more changes in 47.3%, 17.4% with tumor and 14.8% with polyps. The incomplete colonoscopies corresponded to 24.3%, due to tumor obstruction, fixed kink, poor preparation, stenosis, and agitation. The statistically significant indications for increased finding of colorectal tumor were gastrointestinal bleeding, anemia, chronic wasting syndrome, palpable abdominal tumor, polyposis, and elevation of CEA in the postoperative. There were no significant differences between polyps and males or advancing age, neither between the finding of polyps and risk of associated tumor.
CONCLUSION: Patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, anemia, chronic wasting syndrome, palpable abdominal tumor, polyposis, and increased postoperative CEA of colorectal cancer should be prioritized for the colonoscopy study.
