Easily Overlooked Lesions Tied to Colon Cancer, Study Finds

New York Times ^ | March 5, 2008 | DENISE GRADY

[libstripper]

An easily overlooked type of abnormality in the colon is the most likely type to turn cancerous, and is more common in this country than previously thought, researchers are reporting.

The findings come from a study of colonoscopy, in which a camera-tipped tube is used to examine the lining of the intestine. Generally, doctors search for polyps, abnormal growths that stick out from the lining and can turn into cancer. But another type of growth is much more dangerous, and harder to see because it is flat or depressed and similar in color to healthy tissue.

Japanese researchers became concerned about these flat lesions in the 1980s and ’90s, but studies here had mixed results and American doctors tended to think that flat growths were less common and less dangerous in the United States.

[libstripper]

If you're scheduled for a colonoscopy, this is a very important issue to raise with your doctor.

[CDHart]

Thanks for the post.

Carolyn

[libstripper]

Even though the Slimes is totally in the tank for the worst DemonRats, some of its other reporting, like this article, is highly professional and needs to be read and widely disseminated. I’m having a colonoscopy later this year and am very glad it was published.

[Don Carlos]

My gastro Doctor was aware of this in 1985. I’m here today, thanks to him!

[The Great RJ]

If you are over 50 and haven’t had a colonoscopy yet, get one done. It could well save your life.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

This is a difficult problem that I don’t think can be solved with existing technology. That is, it is never a good idea to rely on a doctor’s skill to detect something, because a lot of doctors, like everybody else, just won’t have that skill.

But that being said, I do foresee a possible solution to the problem. Finding something that makes these tissues stand out and be more recognizable. Creating a contrast between it and healthy tissue to make it easier to see.

This could be any number of things, such as swallowing a dye, or having a dye sprayed by the scope, the dye either sticking to, or not sticking to, the suspect tissue.

It could also be done as a chemical or radioactive tag that is more or less absorbed by these tissues.

Again, whatever works.

[Frobenius]

...because a lot of doctors, like everybody else, just won’t have that skill...

...after all, almost half of doctors have below average skills...

[CDHart]

Me, too, as colon cancer runs in my family.

Carolyn