Vol. 1 No. 2 (2026): COLONOSCOPY FINDINGS AND PREDICTORS OF SIGNIFICANT COLORECTAL LESIONS IN ADULT PATIENTS
Vol. 1, Issue No. 2 | July 2026
Colonoscopy remains the gold standard for detecting benign, premalignant, and malignant colorectal lesions, enabling both diagnosis and therapeutic intervention during the same procedure. Early identification of clinically significant colorectal lesions is essential for reducing colorectal cancer-related morbidity and mortality. This original research article published in the Journal of the European Society of Surgery (JESS) evaluates colonoscopy findings and identifies the clinical predictors associated with significant colorectal lesions among adult patients undergoing colonoscopy at Prime Hospital, Dubai, UAE. The prospective observational study included 350 adult patients who underwent colonoscopy between 2020 and 2023 for lower gastrointestinal symptoms or colorectal cancer screening. Significant colorectal lesions were identified in 30.0% of patients, with colorectal polyps (23.4%) representing the most common finding, followed by hemorrhoids (21.1%), while advanced adenoma (10.9%) was the most frequent significant lesion.
The study demonstrated that patients aged over 50 years, male sex, rectal bleeding, altered bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, iron deficiency anemia, and a positive fecal occult blood test (FOBT) were significantly more likely to have clinically important colorectal lesions. Multivariate analysis identified unexplained weight loss as the strongest independent predictor, followed by positive FOBT and iron deficiency anemia. These findings support a risk-based approach to colonoscopy referrals, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing patients with alarm symptoms for early diagnostic evaluation. The authors conclude that timely colonoscopic assessment can improve the detection of premalignant adenomas and colorectal cancer, facilitating earlier treatment and better patient outcomes.
