Other names
Colon biopsy, examination of the lower intestine
Description
Colonoscopy is a diagnostic procedure which enables a doctor, usually a gastroenterologist, to examine the appearance of the inside of the colon or large bowel. The doctor inserts a flexible tube into the anus, and then, into the rectum and through the colon. The doctor controls the colonoscope by looking through the scope or by using a camera image projected onto a TV screen - you might think of this as a 'virtual colonoscopy'.