Colon cancer seen by colonoscopeColo-rectal cancer is a common and lethal disease in North America, Australia, and Europe. 90 percent of the disease occur after age 50. In the U.S., deaths from colon cancer account for about 9 percent of all cancer deaths every year.
Most of colon cancer arise from the mucosa, the inner lining of colon. At present time, colonoscopy is the best diagnostic test by which doctors perform biopsy. Another test, called barium enema (BE), is also used in 5 percent of patients in whom the colonoscope is not able to reach tumors because of obstruction cancer, tortuous colon. It is important that the whole colon be examined, so that other co-existing tumors are not missed.
A blood test, called carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), is not recommended as a screening test for colon cancer. However, the blood level of CEA has prognostic utility; meaning it can predict if a patient with colon cancer will do well in the future.
CT scan is commonly used in detecting metastases. Its greatest benefit is to help avoid unnecessary surgery in patients who have distant metastases but do not have symptoms such as bleeding, obstruction.
PET scan is most helpful in detecting recurrence of colon cancer in patients who have high CEA level but in whom cancer is not found by CT, BE, colonoscopy.
Most of colon cancer arise from the mucosa, the inner lining of colon. At present time, colonoscopy is the best diagnostic test by which doctors perform biopsy. Another test, called barium enema (BE), is also used in 5 percent of patients in whom the colonoscope is not able to reach tumors because of obstruction cancer, tortuous colon. It is important that the whole colon be examined, so that other co-existing tumors are not missed.
A blood test, called carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), is not recommended as a screening test for colon cancer. However, the blood level of CEA has prognostic utility; meaning it can predict if a patient with colon cancer will do well in the future.
CT scan is commonly used in detecting metastases. Its greatest benefit is to help avoid unnecessary surgery in patients who have distant metastases but do not have symptoms such as bleeding, obstruction.
PET scan is most helpful in detecting recurrence of colon cancer in patients who have high CEA level but in whom cancer is not found by CT, BE, colonoscopy.
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