Last updated: 02/17/2009

Diagnosis

Most patients with hemorrhoids are diagnosed because they notice blood on their toilet paper or in the toilet bowl after a bowel movement and consult their doctor. It is important for patients to visit the doctor whenever they...

notice bleeding from the rectum, because it may be a symptom of colorectal cancer or other serious disease of the digestive tract. In addition, such other symptoms in the anorectal region as itching, irritation, and pain may be caused by abscesses, fissures in the skin, bacterial infections, fistulae, and other disorders as well as hemorrhoids. The doctor will perform a digital examination of the patient's rectum in order to rule out these other possible causes.

Following the digital examination, the doctor will use an anoscope or sigmoidoscope in order to view the inside of the rectum and the lower part of the large intestine to check for internal hemorrhoids. The patient may be given a barium enema if the doctor suspects cancer of the colon; otherwise, imaging studies are not routinely performed in diagnosing hemorrhoids. In some cases, a laboratory test called a stool guaiac may be used to detect the presence of blood in stools.

Preparation

Patients who are scheduled for a surgical hemorrhoidectomy are given a sedative intravenously before the procedure. They are also given small-volume saline enemas to cleanse the rectal area and lower part of the large intestine. This preparation provides the surgeon with a clean operating field.