Can Sigmoidoscopy Remove Polyps?

A sigmoidoscopy may also be used to take a tissue sample or biopsy. And it can be used to remove polyps or hemorrhoids (swollen veins in your rectum and anus). It is also a screening test for colon cancer and rectal cancer. A sigmoidoscopy is performed using a thin, flexible tube called a sigmoidoscope.

Why have a sigmoidoscopy instead of a colonoscopy?

The difference between the two tests is the part of the colon they allow the doctor to see. A sigmoidoscopy is less invasive, because it only looks at the lower part of your colon. A colonoscopy looks at the entire large intestine.

What can sigmoidoscopy detect?

During a flexible sigmoidoscopy, a healthcare provider uses a scope to view the inside of the lower (sigmoid) colon and rectum. The procedure helps diagnose bowel problems, such as ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It can also detect colon polyps that can become colon cancer.