[Early diagnosis of cancer of colorectal carcinoma by rectosigmoidoscopy (author's transl)].

The colorectal cancers in greater part grow out of polyps, which can be looked upon as optional precancerosis. Own results together with literature-reports show a distinct increase of the frequency of polyps beyond the age of fortyfive. The only digital palpation of the rectum is insufficient; it leads to the diagnosis of a rectum polyp only in 15.5%, to the diagnosis of a cancer in 13% of cases. With the rectosigmoidoscopy however the diagnosis is successful in 70% of cases. The percentage of precancerous polypous alterations detected by rectosigmoidoscopy is approximately the same in medical check-up as in directed examinations of patients with anorectal discomfort. A restriction of rectosigmoidoscopy to the last-named group of persons is not any longer justified. The polypectomy in the rectum is a real cancer-prevention.