RESUMO
A total of 252 consecutive screening flexible sigmoidoscopies were done by two community-based general internists on asymptomatic patients with stool negative for occult blood. Neoplastic lesions were found in 26 patients (10.3%), including 27 adenomatous polyps, 2 with carcinoma-in-situ and 1 carcinoid tumor. No complications resulted from flexible sigmoidoscopy. Nineteen patients with positive screening sigmoidoscopy underwent colonoscopy, and additional adenomatous polyps were found in six patients (31.6%), but no additional malignancy. Total cost for screening flexible sigmoidoscopy and additional studies was $30,359 ($1,168 per patient with a polyp or malignancy and $10,119 per patient with a malignant lesion). Screening flexible sigmoidoscopy can be safely done by community-based general internists in asymptomatic patients with a diagnostic yield comparable with that reported by subspecialists; total costs are acceptable.
Assuntos
Neoplasias do Colo/prevenção & controle , Pólipos do Colo/prevenção & controle , Programas de Rastreamento/economia , Sangue Oculto , Médicos de Família , Neoplasias Retais/prevenção & controle , Sigmoidoscopia , Análise Custo-Benefício , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
The case report of a 10-year-old boy, admitted to the hospital after he had experienced 4 days of periumbilical abdominal pain, intermittent vomiting, and diarrhea, is presented. He had proctoscopic and radiologic findings resembling ulcerative colitis. However, further analysis of laboratory data suggested hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Since the patient in the pediatric age group presents with a clinical picture mimicking ulcerative colitis, this hemolytic-uremic syndrome should be included in the differential diagnosis. Examination of a peripheral smear revealing typical findings of microangiogpathic, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and a rising blood urea nitrogen value will lead to the diagnosis of hemolytic-uremic syndrome and early appropriate therapy.