Home
> Colon &
Rectal Center > Mercy Services & Amenities
Colon & Rectal Center: Mercy Services & Amenities
The Colon and Rectal Center at Mercy also offers radiation oncology,
diagnostic radiology, incontinence services, ostomy services,
physical therapy and rehabilitation, and patient eductation. Patients
can also take advantage of "virtual colonoscopy."
The Center offers a variety of prevention and screening tests
for colon and rectal cancer including:
Colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is an exam that allows a doctor
to see and closely inspect the inside of the entire colon for
signs
of
cancer
or polyps. Polyps are small growths that can become cancerous.
The doctor uses a “colonoscope,” a thin, flexible,
hollow, lighted tube equipped with a tiny video camera that
is gently eased inside the colon. This camera sends pictures
to a TV monitor. Small puffs of air are introduced into the
colon to keep it open and allow the doctor to see clearly.
The exam itself typically takes 15–30 minutes. Patients
are typically given medicine to help them relax, which often
puts them to sleep during the procedure.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy is the visual examination
of the intestine beyond the lower end of the rectum and into the
sigmoid flexure. It involves the use of a flexible instrument
that can be as long as twelve inches known as a sigmoidoscope.
Barium enema and upper GI series. A barium enema
is given in order to perform an X-ray examination of the large
intestines. Pictures are taken after rectal instillation of barium
sulfate (a radiopaque contrast medium). An Upper GI and small
bowel series is a aset of X-rays taken to examine the esophagus,
stomach, and small intestine. X-rays are taken after the patient
has swallowed a barium suspension.
CT scan of the abdomen. A CT
or computed tomography scan uses special x-ray equipment which
gathers image data of the body from many angles, then uses computer
processing to reveal a cross-section of the body's tissues and
internal organs, including the lower gastrointestinal tract, the
colon and rectum. The CT scan can help physicians accurately diagnose
various causes of abdominal pain including an abcess, an inflamed
colon, colon cancer, diverticulitis, appendicitis, etc.
Ultrasound is used to measure blood flow in
the artery to the liver (hepatic artery) and total liver flow
in patients with colon cancer. This measurement is helpful because
abnormalities occurring in hepatic artery blood flow can be used
to detect early cancer metastasis to the liver. Ulatrasound may
actually predict those patients at a higher risk of a relapse
in the liver.
Upper and Lower Endoscopy is
valuable in the diagnosis of the cause of gastrointestinal bleeding
and
allows
direct viewing of
the digestive tract. The endoscope is a long black flexible tube
with a light and a computer chip in the tip which allows the
physician
to see the lining of the digestive tract. Because the endoscope
can detect lesions and confirm the presence or absence of bleeding,
doctors often choose this method to diagnose patients with acute
bleeding. In many cases the doctor can also use the endoscope
and endoscopic accessories to treat the source of the bleeding.
An examination of the upper digestive tract is called an upper
endoscopy or an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).
Now Accepting New Patients.
Most Insurances Accepted.
Please call for an appointment.
Phone: 410-783-5800
Tollfree: 1-800-MD-Mercy
(1-800-636-3729)
|
