More Polyps Detected during Morning Colonoscopies

A recent study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology has found that more potentially cancerous polyps were detected in people who had a colonoscopy in the morning rather than the afternoon. Polyps are small clumps of cells that form on the lining of the colon, some of which may become cancerous over time, according to the Mayo Clinic. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that adults have a colonoscopy every 10 years beginning at age 50 to detect any polyps so they can be removed before they become cancerous.

Led by Dr. Madhusudhan R. Sanaka, researchers at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio looked at over 3,600 colonoscopies at their health center. The team found that more polyps were detected in tests performed in the morning than in the afternoon. Of the patients who had a colonoscopy performed in the morning, 29 percent had polyps, while 25 percent of the patients who underwent screening in the afternoon had polyps.

Sanaka and his team considered that this lower detection rate in the afternoon may have been a result of doctors having less energy as the day progressed, making them less meticulous and less likely to find polyps. The higher rate of polyp detection in the morning may have also been a result of the types of people who had morning appointments. The morning group consisted of more patients with a history of polyps, more men and people with an older average age.

According to the Mayo Clinic, polyps may be small and produce few, if any, symptoms, so it is important to have regular screening tests to help prevent colon cancer. If you or a loved one has questions about the timeliness of a cancer diagnosis or the quality of the medical care you received, call our cancer malpractice lawyers at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. for answers. Our lawyers serve clients with Manhattan cancer malpractice, Bronx cancer malpractice, Brooklyn cancer malpractice, Queens cancer malpractice and Long Island cancer malpractice cases.

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