Flexible fiberoptic sigmoidoscopy. Important screening tool for colorectal disorders.

Because of the frequency of colorectal disease and the effectiveness of early intervention in the polyp-cancer sequence, surveillance for this problem should be a routine part of health-maintenance examinations. The general use of flexible sigmoidoscopy in conjunction with fecal occult blood screening is an extremely important part of healthcare delivery. Flexible sigmoidoscopy can easily be learned by most physicians. If use of the procedure becomes widespread, the effects of colorectal disease, in terms of both patient suffering and healthcare costs, can be reduced.