ASSESSMENT OF COLONOSCOPIC FINDINGS IN PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH LOWER GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS

Background: Colonic diseases present with a wide spectrum of symptoms such as per rectal bleeding, altered bowel habits, chronic diarrhea, and unexplained weight loss. Early and accurate diagnosis is essential for appropriate management and prevention of complications, particularly colorectal malignancies. Colonoscopy is considered the gold standard diagnostic procedure for evaluating diseases of the large intestine as it allows direct visualization, localization of lesions, and biopsy when required. Aim: To study the role of colonoscopy in the evaluation of colonic diseases.