title: Colonoscopy in unexplained lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
abstract: Two hundred and forty patient with unexplained gastrointestinal blood loss underwent colonoscopy. Significant lesions which were thought to be likely causes of bleeding were identified in 98 patients, ie, 41% of total, which included active colitis in 9%, large polyps in 10% and colorectal cancer in 12% of patients. Of the cancers found at colonoscopy, 64% were Dukes A or B. This study confirms the role of colonoscopy in the investigation of unexplained chronic lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Auckland Hospital.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Gane
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016888:Angiodysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis; D003092:Colitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007417:Intestinal Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged