title: The annual yield of diagnostic endoscopy of the lower digestive tract.
abstract: BACKGROUND: Endoscopy of the colon and rectum has become a standard diagnostic procedure. No data are presented in the literature on the annual yield or on morbidity patterns. A large, cross-sectional, single-center study was done in order to detect the annual yield of endoscopy of the colon and rectum. METHODS: All consecutive endoscopies performed over an 11-year period were included. All files from a random year were taken in order to collect data on the indication for the endoscopy. A standardized endoscopy report was used. RESULTS: Over the 11-year period, 11,550 consecutive endoscopies of the lower digestive tract were performed. Seven hundred and fourteen procedures were excluded because they were done as a direct follow-up after the index procedure. The majority of endoscopies were scheduled as colonoscopy. The most common endoscopic diagnoses made each year remained constant in number. Cancer was diagnosed in 4-6% of cases, inflammation in 9-15%, polyps in 9-16%, and diverticular disease in 21-37%. The percentage of women undergoing the procedure each year ranged from 54% to 59%, that of men from 41% to 46%. CONCLUSION: From this study it can be concluded that the annual yield of endoscopy of the lower digestive tract remains rather constant. No major changes in morbidity are noted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, De Heel Zaans Medical Center, PO Box 210, 1500 EE Zaandam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R J L F
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Loffeld
authors.forename: A B M M
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: van der Putten