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Last week, I saw a new patient — a 60-year-old man who reported having a screening colonoscopy elsewhere 6 years ago. He recalled that a polyp had been removed, but he didn't know any more details. Without that information, I was unable to advise the patient on whether repeat colonoscopy was appropriate. A new study from Cleveland Clinic addresses this issue: To find out whether patients recalled the presence and characteristics of polyps, researchers surveyed 233 patients who had undergone colonoscopies at their institution an average of 3 years previously.
Of 140 patients who stated that polyps had been present, 84% were correct. Of 80 patients who reported that no polyps had been found, 91% were correct. Thirteen patients were unsure. How…