Table 4

Visible variables at sigmoidoscopy [21]

Visible variable
Agreement (3 observers)

• Spontaneous bleeding (present or absent)

• Friability = 'bleeding to light touch' (present or absent)

• Moisture (normal 'dry', moist, 'oedematous')

• Distensibility (normal, rigid/contracted)
>60%
• Valves (normal sharp crescent folds, swollen, absent)

• Large deep vessels (visible, not seen)

• Ulcers (present or absent*)

• Polyp (present or absent*)


• Granularity (normal smoothness, granular)

• Mucosal surface (attempt to describe the sheen on the mucosa: normal mat, dull lustreless; wet shiny)
<60%
• Colour (red, pink, pale)

• Mucopus (no mucus or pus, clear mucus, opaque pus)

• Faeces (none, solid, liquid)

Small superficial vessels (normal, few, patchy)


*:100% agreement, because none seen

Cooney et al. Trials 2007 8:17   doi:10.1186/1745-6215-8-17