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CancerQuest > Introduction to Patient Information > Introduction to Cancer Detection and Diagnosis > Colonoscopy: Introduction > Colonoscopy: Disadvantages

Colonoscopy: Disadvantages

Colonoscopy is an effective way to view the colon, but there are disadvantages to this exam:

Ineffective Exam
Sometimes a colonoscopy is not effective in examining the entire colon. If the colon is not clean or there is a blockage the doctor may not be able to examine the entire colon. This may cause abnormalities to be missed. A barium enema or virtual colonoscopy may also be required in these cases. An older study, from 1997, showed that colonoscopy failed to examine the entire colon in 10-15% of cases and missed 10-20% of lesions.⁽¹⁾

Possible Side Effects
In most cases colonoscopy doesn't produce any side effects, but they can occur.

For some patients colonscopy is uncomfortable, painful, and may cause anxiety. These patients can be given some form of sedative/anesthetic to reduce those feelings. Whenever a sedative/anesthetic is used there is a risk for side effects, including drowsiness, nausea, and/or pain at the site of injection.

Damage to the colon can occur from colonoscopy or colon biopsy. A study from 1997 showed tearing of the colon lining occurred in one out of every 500-1000 cases.⁽¹⁾

Colonoscopies are expensive (from $500-$1000), three times more expensive than a barium enema.

References for this page:

1. Fenlon, HM and Ferrucci, JT. "Virtual Colonoscopy: What Will the Issues Be?." American Journal of Roentegenology. 1997 Aug;169(2):453-8. [PUBMED]