The presence of anal disease should always alert the practitioner to the possibility of more proximal colorectal pathology, The physician sill often feel obliged to investigate the colon and anorectum for coexisting pathology. The purpose of this
study
is to evaluate the clinical significance of colonic evaluation with the colonoscopy or barium enemal in patients with benign anal diseases. One hundred and twenty two colonoscopic and 2 barium enema studies of the entire colon were performed for
124
patients with benign anal diseases form March 1993 to April 1994 at Korea University Ansan Hospital. Thirty nine lesions were detected in 33 patiens(26.6%), which were 16 hyperplastic polyps, 8 adenomatous polyps, 5 nonspecific colitis. 4
diverticula, 3
melanosis coli, 2 adenocacinomas, and 1 ulcerative colitis. In respect that only neoplastic lesions and ulcerative colitis were clinically significant, 9 patients(7.3%) who had 11 lesions of adenomatous polyp, adenocarcinama, and ulcerative
colitis
seemed to have benefit, All clinically significant lesions were located within the reach of the sigmoidoscopy. The age of these 9 patients were not confinded to the old age group and distributed broadly from the 30's to the 70's. We conclude that
sigmoidoscopy is more acceptable, primary diagnostic tool than the colonoscopy and should be recommended in all age group of benign anal diseases.
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