[The importance of rectoscopy and colonoscopy in Internal Medicine].

The endoscopic examination of the large intestine can be considered today a routine examination in internal medicine. Since the introduction of flexible videoendoscopy, evaluating diseases in the distal colon using rectoscopy has become less important. Anoproctoscopy is an obligatory component for a complete colon diagnostic after a flexible ileo-colonoscopy has been performed. Colonoscopy has improved significantly the diagnosis and therapy of diseases in the large intestine since it has been introduced more than 30 years ago. By introducing modern videocolonoscopy in addition to other instruments, there is today a broad spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic indications available. Specifically, due to its frequency and prognostic relevance, colonoscopy has become the most powerful and important procedure in the early detection and prevention of colon cancer.