If i recently had a full body pet scan and it detected diverticula, but nothing else, do i still need to do a colonoscopy?

Prevention is key: Pet is not an adequate screen. Colonoscopy screening based on accepted national guidelines (age 45 for select populations, age 50 for most other americans) is the gold standard. While not perfect, colonoscopy detects and removes many pre-cancerous polyps prior to cancer development. Key preventatives also include: mediterranean high fiber, low fat diets, proper weight, baby aspirin, avoid tobacco.

Yes: Pet can detect cancer or inflammation but not benign polyps or tumor which is the main advantage of doing colonoscopy. When you do colonoscopy and there is a polyp and we remove it, this will prevent cancer.

Not necessarily: When is the last time you had one? Beginning at age 50 with average risk, the american cancer society recommends for one of the following plus annual testing stool for blood: -flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years* -colonoscopy every 10 years -double-contrast barium enema every 5 years* ct colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years* *colonoscopy should be done if positive.