- Digital rectal exam involves the doctor or nurse inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel for an abnormalities.
- Barium enema, also known as a lower gastrointestinal series, takes X-rays of the large intestines.
- Fecal occult blood test is a test that detects the presence of hidden, or occult blood in the stool. Such blood may arise from anywhere along the digestive tract. Hidden blood in the stool is often the first, and in many cases the only, warning sign that a person has colorectal cancer.
- Sigmoidoscopy is performed to see inside the rectum and the lower colon and remove polyps or other abnormal tissue for examination under a microscope.
- Colonoscopy is performed to see inside the rectum and the entire colon and remove polyps or other abnormal tissue for examination under a microscope.
- Polypectomy is performed during a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy to remove polyps.
- Biopsy is a test in which a small amount of tissue from the suspected area is removed for examination by a pathologist to make a diagnosis.
Rectal Cancer Diagnosis
Doctors will recommend one or more of the following diagnostic tests
