Flexible Sigmoidoscopy vs Colonoscopy: What’s the Difference?
If you have been referred for a bowel examination, you may have questions about the flexible sigmoidoscopy vs colonoscopy and why your doctor has selected one procedure instead of the other.
Both procedures use a flexible camera to examine the large intestine, but they do not examine the same amount of the bowel. A flexible sigmoidoscopy focuses on the lower part of the colon and rectum, while a colonoscopy is designed to examine the entire colon.
Mackenzie Endoscopy Centre provides both procedures at its outpatient facility in Woodbridge, Ontario.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy vs Colonoscopy
The main difference between the two procedures is the area that is examined.
Flexible sigmoidoscopy examines the rectum and sigmoid portion of the colon. Mackenzie Endoscopy describes its flexible sigmoidoscopy procedure as an examination of the lower sigmoid half of the colon and rectum, with the procedure used to investigate concerns including rectal bleeding, changes in bowel habits and abnormalities identified through imaging.
A colonoscopy examines the entire colon and rectum. The physician can use the camera to inspect the bowel lining and, when appropriate, remove polyps or take biopsies.
This difference in the area examined is important when deciding which procedure is appropriate.
Why Would a Doctor Choose Flexible Sigmoidoscopy?
A flexible sigmoidoscopy may be appropriate when the doctor needs to examine the lower part of the colon and rectum.
For example, the procedure may be used to investigate certain cases of rectal bleeding, changes in bowel habits or an abnormality identified through another examination.
The decision depends on the individual patient’s symptoms, medical history and what the physician needs to investigate.
A colonoscopy may be preferred when the entire colon needs to be examined, particularly when a broader investigation is required.
Is Flexible Sigmoidoscopy the Same as Colonoscopy?
No.
Although both procedures use similar technology, a flexible sigmoidoscopy is more limited in the section of bowel it examines.
This means that a normal flexible sigmoidoscopy does not necessarily provide the same information as a normal colonoscopy because the upper sections of the colon have not been examined.
This is one reason it is important to have the procedure recommended by your doctor rather than choosing an examination based only on convenience.
What Happens During the Procedure?
At Mackenzie Endoscopy Centre, patients receive an intravenous sedative before flexible sigmoidoscopy to help ensure comfort during the examination. The flexible instrument is inserted through the rectum and guided through the area being examined. If polyps are detected, the physician may remove them or take a biopsy for further examination.
Colonoscopy follows a similar basic process, but the instrument is advanced through the colon so that the physician can examine the entire large intestine. Sedation or anesthesia is used at Mackenzie to improve patient comfort.
Which Procedure Is Right for You?
There is no universal answer to whether flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy is better.
The appropriate procedure depends on the reason for the examination. Your doctor may recommend flexible sigmoidoscopy when the lower colon and rectum are the primary areas of concern, while colonoscopy may be recommended when a complete examination of the colon is necessary.
For patients in Woodbridge and Vaughan, Mackenzie Endoscopy Centre provides both procedures as part of its specialist gastrointestinal services.
If you are unsure why you have been referred for a particular examination, ask your doctor or the endoscopy centre to explain what area is being examined and why that procedure has been recommended.