INTRODUCTION: The colonoscopy as a diagnostic and prevention tool has been increasingly used for the prevention and treatment of the colon and rectum diseases. This rise is also seen in non pediatric teenagers under 20 years old. METHOD: Between October 1998 and July 2006, 4354 patients were submitted to colonoscopy scope in one of the author's privet clinic. The files of 66 patients under 20 y/o were retrospectively analyzed. Histology was obtained for patients with abnormal exams. RESULTS: Medium age was 17,96 y/o (range 11 to 20). Thirty nine patients were female and 27 male. The exam was normal in 40, Linfoid hiperplasic tissue was found in 10, diverticulosis in 2, unspecific colitis in 1 and hyperplasic polyps in 1 patient, totalizing 54 (81,81%) exams without any specific alteration. Colitis was observed in 10 and polyps in 5. Two patients have family history of IBD and one of colon cancer. CONCLUSION: Patient selection is crucial to avoiding unnecessary exams in non-pediatric patients under 20 years old.
Colonoscopy; adolescent; screening; colon; diagnosis
