The best test for diagnosing colorectal cancer

What are the best tests for diagnosing colorectal cancer? In today's medical world, high-tech medical technology has made great progress, and people have conquered most cancers. When treating cancer, doctors cannot do without various examination methods, because the data obtained from the examination must be referred to when treating colorectal cancer. Experts say that there are five main examination methods for colorectal cancer. The following is a detailed introduction.

1. Endoscopic examination.

Proctoscopes and sigmoidoscopes are suitable for colon cancer with lower lesions. Endoscopic examination reports must include the depth of insertion, tumor size, location from the anal verge, morphology, and extent of local infiltration. Pathological biopsies must be performed for suspicious lesions during colonoscopy. It is generally recommended to combine CT or barium enema to identify the location of the lesion.

2. Imaging examination.

Colonic barium enema examination, especially double contrast examination with air barium, is an important means of diagnosing colon cancer; B-mode ultrasound can be used to understand whether the patient has recurrence or metastasis, and has the advantages of being convenient and fast; CT examination can determine the depth of lesions invading the intestinal wall, the extent of spread outside the wall, and the site of distant metastasis; MRI examination can evaluate the preoperative staging of rectal cancer, liver metastases of colon cancer, and patients with suspected peritoneal and subcapsular lesions; intrarectal ultrasound or endoscopic ultrasound examination is a routine examination for the diagnosis and staging of mid- and low-position rectal cancer; PET-CT can be used as an effective auxiliary examination for metastatic and recurrent lesions that cannot be identified by conventional examinations; excretory urography is suitable for patients with large tumors that may invade the urinary tract.

3. Understand the clinical manifestations of colorectal cancer.

Generally, early-stage colorectal cancer may have no obvious symptoms. When the disease progresses to a certain extent, there will be changes in bowel habits, changes in stool characteristics (thinner stools, bloody stools, mucous stools, etc.), abdominal pain or discomfort, abdominal masses, intestinal obstruction, anemia, and systemic symptoms (such as weight loss, fatigue, low fever), etc.

4. Physical examination for colorectal cancer.

Physical examination can evaluate the general condition of colorectal cancer patients, the status of superficial lymph nodes throughout the body, and check for intestinal type, intestinal peristaltic waves, and abdominal masses through abdominal inspection and palpation. All patients suspected of colon cancer must undergo routine rectal digital examination. Understand the size, texture, range of intestinal wall circumference, base mobility, distance from the anal verge, tumor infiltration outside the intestine, and relationship with surrounding organs.

5. Laboratory examination.

A routine blood test is performed to determine whether anemia is present; a routine urine test is performed to determine whether hematuria is present, and combined with urinary system imaging examinations, it is determined whether the tumor has invaded the urinary system; a routine stool examination should note the presence of red blood cells and pus cells; a fecal occult blood test is performed to diagnose small amounts of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.

The above is the editor's introduction to the "Five ways to check for colorectal cancer". These ways of checking are inseparable from certain medical equipment, and the results of the check are credible. It is hoped that colorectal cancer patients will actively cooperate with doctors for examinations before treatment, which will help doctors to further carry out effective treatment.