Colon Cancer Screening in Little Rock, AR

Individuals should ask their GI specialist at GastroArkansas about when to go to the colon cancer screening and what tests are suggested. One or more of the tests listed below might be used for a colon cancer screening:

• Flexible sigmoidoscopy: A sigmoidoscopy is used to view the inside of the rectum and lower colon. A tube about the size of a finger that has a camera (called a sigmoidoscope) will enter your rectum so we can get images of the inner wall as well as part of your colon. It can be used to take a biopsy of the tumor or polyp and get rid of some polyps. However, a colonoscopy will need to be done to view all of the colon and extract all tumors or polyps. It is generally pretty safe but there is a minimal chance of the bowel tearing, bleeding, and infection.
• Colonoscopy: A colonoscope is somewhat like a sigmoidoscope, except it is longer and is used to review the inside of the entire colon. The colonoscope is put in through your rectum and the GI specialist can see a full view of the colon on our computer system. Specific tools will be passed through the colonoscope to take the biopsy and remove polyps. Sedation is required. There is a minimal risk of bowel tears, bleeding, and/or infection occurring after the procedure.
• Virtual colonoscopy: This is a computed tomography scan of your colon. We'll have you lie on the treatment table where the CT scanner will take cross-section images of your colon. This is a noninvasive treatment and does not call for any sedation. If we find any abnormalities, a colonoscopy will need to be done to remove the polyps or tumors.
• Double-contrast barium enema: A little tube is placed into the rectum and barium sulfate, which is a liquid that is white and chalky, and air will be pumped into your colon. The barium suspension will line the outer walls of your colon. X-rays of the colon are then taken to showcase any abnormalities on the inner wall of your colon. If abnormalities are identified, a colonoscopy needs to be done to extract the polyps or tumors.
• Fecal test: Fecal tests are done with a fecal sample and are very safe. Fecal tests might not give confirmatory results but might suggest abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract, calling for further testing. A colonoscopy needs to be repeated if your results are positive, indicating cancerous growths in your colon. Our Little Rock, AR gastroenterologists offer three types of fecal tests:
  • Stool DNA tests look for certain abnormal DNA genes in the cells shed from cancerous outgrowth or polyps in your stool sample.
  • Fecal immunochemical tests detect blood through a specific immunochemical reaction of protein in the blood and can detect hidden blood.
  • Fecal occult blood tests can detect blood in the feces not visible to the eye through a chemical reaction.