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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffYour doctor may be able to see if you have external hemorrhoids simply by looking. For internal hemorrhoids, he or she will insert a rubber-gloved finger into your rectum. Because internal hemorrhoids are often too soft to be felt in a rectal examination, your doctor may also examine the lower portion of your colon and rectum with an anoscope, proctoscope or sigmoidoscope. These are flexible, lighted tubes that allow your doctor to see into your anus and rectum.
Your doctor may want to do a more extensive examination of your entire colon using colonoscopy. This might be recommended if:
- Your signs and symptoms suggest you might have another digestive disease
- You have risk factors for colorectal cancer
- You're over age 50 (age 45 if you're black) and haven't had colonoscopy within 10 years
- Hemorrhoids. American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons. http://www.fascrs.org/patients/conditions/hemorrhoids. Accessed Dec. 1, 2008.
- Hemorrhoids. American Gastroenterological Association. http://www.gastro.org/frame-templates/print_template.cfm. Accessed Dec. 1, 2008.
- Hemorrhoids. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hemorrhoids. Accessed Dec. 1, 2008.
- Kaidar-Person O, et al. Hemorrhoidal disease: A comprehensive review. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2007;204:102.
- Bleday R. Patient information: Hemorrhoids. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 16, 2008.
- Acheson AG, et al. Management of haemorrhoids. British Medical Journal. 2008;336:380.
- Bleday R, et al. Clinical features of hemorrhoids. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 17, 2008.
- Cataldo P, et al. Practice parameters for the management of hemorrhoids (revised). Diseases of the Colon and Rectum. 2005;48:189.
- Bleday R, et al. Treatment of hemorrhoids. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 17, 2008.
