A colonoscopy camera lets the physician check for abnormalities inside the colon. These can include cancerous or precancerous growths. The doctor guides a flexible scope though the colon, that can take about seven minutes, he then spends on average another six minutes withdrawing the scope evaluating inside of the colon.
The New England Journal of Medicine published a study that found colonoscopies that took a longer time to complete found more abnormal growths. Faster testing was shown to miss some abnormalities. Doctors who spent more than six minutes withdrawing the colonoscopy tube found more abnormal growths than those who withdrew it in less than six minutes.
The study did not have a conclusive answer as to exactly long physicians should spend withdrawing the tube. Other experts say to keep it in the range of six to ten minutes.
I know this is the last thing you want to say to your physician-- "Can you keep that up there a bit longer please?', but it might just save your life.
