CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Vol 28, 202-210, Copyright
© 1978 by American Cancer Society
Sigmoidoscopy in Women: Comparison with Breast and Gynecologic Examinations in 1,000 Patients
Daniel J. Abramson M.D.1
1 Clinical Professor of Surgery, Uniformed Services of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.
One thousand women were surveyed regarding the frequency of breast, gynecologic, sigmoidoscopic, and barium enema examinations. Approximately 90 percent or more had had breast and gynecologic [SEE FIG. IN SOURCE PDF.] examination with Pap smears on a regular basis. Only 42.7 percent of the women had had one or more sigmoidoscopic examinations. Of those, 57.6 percent had had it done only once, and in 33 percent the procedure was performed two to four times. Thirty-eight of 427 patients had had sigmoiscopy more than four times and 12 of these had had the examination 10 times or more. The majority of patients had had sigmiodoscopy in the investigation of rectal or abdominal complaints, and it was performed as part of a routine physical examination in 98 patients (23 percent). Two hundred thirty-one of 573 patients (40.3 percent) who had not undergone sigmoidoscopy were not familiar with or aware of the procedure. It was noted that many patient had had a barium enema had not had sigmoidoscopy. Men were more familiar with sigmoidoscopy and were examined more frequently than women. A discussion of colorectal cancer and the importance of sigmoidoscopy and guaiac testing in the early detection of colorectal cancer is emphasized.
