ABSTRACT
Objective:
To analyze the main endoscopic findings in patients under 40 years of age and the main indications for colonoscopy in these patients.
Methods:
A retrospective study with 362 reports of patients under 40 years of age who underwent colonoscopy from January 2014 to June 2017 at the colonoscopy service of the General Hospital Roberto Santos. Colon preparation was performed with mannitol and the patients underwent sedation as the anesthetist criteria.
Results:
Of the 362 patients analyzed, 192 (53%) were female. The mean age was 25 years (25.58 ± 11.95). The most frequent indications were inflammatory bowel disease in 24.3% (88) of the patients, bleeding in the lower digestive tract in 24% (87), and chronic diarrhea in 20.2% (73). The main colonoscopic findings were polyposis in 21.3% (77) of the patients and inflammatory alterations in 20.7% (75).
Conclusion:
With the analysis of the data provided by the colonoscopies, it was possible to conclude that, when the investigation is adequate and the examination is well indicated, even under the age of 40, colonoscopy can help in the diagnostic and treatment of several pathologies, including those that may increase the risk of colorectal cancer.
Keywords:
Colonoscopy; Endoscopic diagnosis; Colon's patologies; Polyposis; Colorectal cancer