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Original poster

Colonoscopy - do they always take biopsies?

27 replies

Teems · 12/06/2023 19:07

I had a colonoscopy today to investigate some stomach/bowel issues I have. The doctor told me he found a small polyp but gave no other feedback at the time. On my notes I noticed he took 4 biopsies. Is this normal procedure, or a sign that he had some concerns? 😟

OP posts:

Nichebitch · 12/06/2023 20:06

Hi, I had colonoscopy and endoscopy recently and biopsies were taken in both - they were looking for autoimmune diseases in my case, but biopsies serve many purposes and I believe are quite standard for these procedures. I wouldn’t worry. Good luck x

heartbreakhotel20 · 12/06/2023 20:13

Yes they always do as they examine all the layers of tissue for inflammation. It's so bad they don't explain this. I remember my first one the nurse said they were taking a biopsy and I obviously had a visual reaction as she grabbed my hand and explained it to me. It terrified me. But it is 100% normal practice and doesn't mean they found anything sinister. I have chrons and have multiple colonoscopy's.
Hope you get some answers xx

SalviaDivinorum · 12/06/2023 20:21

I had one on Saturday and no biopsies were taken

lightlypoached · 12/06/2023 20:29

If you have polyps they will usually take biopsies. They can turn cancerous which is why they often remove them or take samples.

If it helps I have lots of polyps and have had numerous biopsies.

It's a good precaution.

I hope you feel better soon

Catbumps · 12/06/2023 20:32

Absolutely normal when they find a polyp. I have them regularly. They need to see what kind of polyp it is. It absolutely doesn’t mean / indicate cancer.

KettleOn919 · 12/06/2023 20:55

I had a colonoscopy and they didn't find any polyps but took biopsies anyway. I was told it was standard to take a few random biopsies even if the colon looked completely normal.

TripleB32 · 12/06/2023 20:58

No. I had one a few months ago and no biopsies were taken.

fuckmyuteruslining · 12/06/2023 21:45

The biopsy is not only looking for cancer, all sorts of bowel inflammation can be seen. I work for the nhs and see a lot of gastro letters and I've always seen them take biopsies. Nearly all of which are v boring bowel tissue.if it looked remotely dodgy they would have told you.

mayorofcasterbridge · 12/06/2023 21:52

I had a colonoscopy a couple of years ago. They removed several polyps and I had biopsies taken. Every thing was fine. I finally got my diagnosis of severe bile acid malabsorption after believing I had IBS for most of my life.

Lelivre · 12/06/2023 21:54

Took multiple samples at mine looking for IBD. My brother in his 20s had 5 taken. Don't worry.

SaltyCrisps · 12/06/2023 21:55

At my most recent colonoscopy polyps were found but the woman conducting the test didn't bother to take biopsies.

champagneplanet · 12/06/2023 21:56

Yes i've had a few as I have IBD and they have always taken biopsies. There are many different reasons to take a biopsy, try not to worry. It makes absolute sense when you think about it as they can tell a lot from the results - in my case my inflammation levels.

vipersnest1 · 12/06/2023 21:59

It depends on the reason you had it as PP have said. If you have polyps they will want to investigate that, and the same for IBD symptoms.
Your notes will likely say if there were any gross abnormalities, so take that as a good sign.

GulfCoastBeachGirl · 12/06/2023 22:03

Anytime they remove a polyp it will be sent off for biopsy. Most are benign but have the potential to become cancerous if left untreated. Polyps are really, really common - I think something like 30-40% of adults over 50 have them. Try not to worry.

Since you are having bowel issues the other biopsies will be to look for inflammation, infection, etc. They are trying to get to the root cause of what's causing your distress. No reason to be alarmed.

Hopefully you'll have answers soon, OP.

Catbumps · 12/06/2023 23:10

At my most recent colonoscopy polyps were found but the woman conducting the test didn't bother to take biopsies

by woman do you mean doctor and by ‘didn’t bother’ did you ask why?

GulfCoastBeachGirl · 12/06/2023 23:42

Catbumps · 12/06/2023 23:10

At my most recent colonoscopy polyps were found but the woman conducting the test didn't bother to take biopsies

by woman do you mean doctor and by ‘didn’t bother’ did you ask why?

I'm sure the polyp was sent to the lab for biopsy. I can't imagine any scenario where a colon polyp is removed and not biopsied; you can't tell by looking at them whether or not they contain cancer cells.

It is possible that no additional biopsies of the bowel lining were taken. That would really depend on why the colonoscopy was carried out in the first place.

SaltyCrisps · 13/06/2023 08:12

by woman do you mean doctor and by ‘didn’t bother’ did you ask why?

No, I don't mean doctor. She was a nurse or other kind of specialist.

I wasn't told until afterwards that although polyps had been discovered no biopsies had been done. However, the woman treated me like a lump of meat, even making remarks during the procedure to colleagues about how the prep had not been as effective as she'd have liked it to be, despite the fact that I'd followed the process to the letter the previous day. I'd had a previous colonoscopy and she began by cross-examining me when I entered the theatre about why I was now having another, as though she bizarrely imagined that I was doing it for jollies and indicating that she didn't see why I needed to be there. I did actually bother to make a complaint afterwards.

Are you this rude when you speak to people face-to-face?

SaltyCrisps · 13/06/2023 08:14

*I'm sure the polyp was sent to the lab for biopsy. I can't imagine any scenario where a colon polyp is removed and not biopsied; you can't tell by looking at them whether or not they contain cancer cells.

It is possible that no additional biopsies of the bowel lining were taken. That would really depend on why the colonoscopy was carried out in the first place.*

They might well be sent for testing if they were removed, but I was told that they didn't remove them.

spiggydit · 13/06/2023 15:29

I had a colonoscopy yesterday found colitis and inflammation. I had around a dozen taken to establish whether it might be crohns or ulcerative colitis

Catbumps · 13/06/2023 17:59

So the ‘nurse’ found potentially cancerous polyps and just left them there and ignored them? If so you have bigger problems than thinking someone online is being rude to you!

GulfCoastBeachGirl · 13/06/2023 18:13

@SaltyCrisps I would definitely have questions if I underwent a colonoscopy which discovered polyps and the polyps were not removed. I would be asking why (due to size were they unable to remove them?) and what the prognosis/future course of action is.

You deserve to get answers.

While it is true that most polyps are not cancerous, the vast majority of bowel cancers start out as little polyps. That's why they don't simply ignore them. Best wishes; hope you're able to get some clarity on this.

SaltyCrisps · 13/06/2023 19:17

Catbumps · 13/06/2023 17:59

So the ‘nurse’ found potentially cancerous polyps and just left them there and ignored them? If so you have bigger problems than thinking someone online is being rude to you!

This was several years ago now. As it happens it's something that I recently mentioned to my GP i.e. I explained that I couldn't understand why they hadn't removed the polyps when it seem that polyps is actually what they're looking for. She pointed out that about 6 months ago I had the more sensitive of the 'poo' tests which are now used to check for bleeding (due to symptoms that are prolly due to diverticulosis (which I know I've got)), and that it was negative. So, that's where it's up to. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Catbumps · 13/06/2023 19:54

The poo tests detect cancer. Polyps (some) change into cancer over a long period of time. Which is why they need to remove ALL polyps.

loveandpoprockz · 13/06/2023 19:59

I’ve only had this procedure done once and they took 3 or 4 biopsies. The biopsies didn’t hurt but I was glad when the procedure was over.

tothelefttotheleft · 13/06/2023 20:33

It hurts when they take biopsies?

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