Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy services
Screening for average-risk patients is often coordinated through gastroenterology; we emphasize colonoscopy when it supports surgical evaluation, your operative plan, or surgeon-directed surveillance after treatment.
Routine screening colonoscopy for average-risk cancer prevention is most often performed by gastroenterologists, who focus on primary screening and surveillance for the general population. Our practice emphasizes colonoscopy when it supports diagnosis, operative planning, and postoperative follow-up in the context of colorectal surgery.
Diagnostic and problem-focused colonoscopy may be appropriate when symptoms or imaging suggest a lesion that needs direct visualization, biopsy, or tattooing for localization; when a prior examination was incomplete; or when findings require correlation before a major operation. We coordinate with gastroenterology when shared planning or additional expertise is in your best interest.
Preoperative colonoscopy helps define extent of disease, identify synchronous polyps or tumors, and mark lesions when that will guide resection. Postoperative colonoscopy may be used for anastomotic assessment when indicated, polyp or recurrence surveillance after certain resections, and other surgeon-directed follow-up tied to your operation. The timing and need for each study depend on your diagnosis, pathology, and overall care plan.
If you are due for routine screening only, your primary care clinician or a gastroenterology practice is usually the right place to start. If you need colonoscopy as part of surgical evaluation or after colorectal surgery, call (509) 747-2326 to schedule a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Average-risk cancer screening is most often coordinated through primary care and gastroenterology. Our practice emphasizes colonoscopy when it supports surgical diagnosis, operative planning, or surgeon-directed surveillance after colorectal treatment.
Colonoscopy may be appropriate for incomplete prior exams, localization or biopsy of a lesion before surgery, preoperative mapping of disease, or postoperative assessment and surveillance tied to your operation. We coordinate with gastroenterology when shared planning is in your best interest.
If routine screening is your only need, your primary care clinician or a gastroenterology practice is usually the right place to start. If colonoscopy is part of surgical evaluation or follow-up after colorectal surgery, call us to arrange a consultation.
Call (509) 747-2326 to schedule a consultation when colonoscopy is part of colorectal surgical care or surveillance we are managing.