Emergency Medicine Practice Test 2026 – Complete Exam Preparation

The primary purpose of ordering a colonoscopy for a patient with diverticula and positive stool occult blood is to conduct screening for colorectal cancer. The presence of diverticula can sometimes complicate the clinical picture in patients who present with gastrointestinal symptoms, including the finding of occult blood in the stool. This is particularly significant in patients over 50 years of age or those with risk factors for colorectal cancer.

A colonoscopy allows visualization of the colon and potential identification of lesions, polyps, or other abnormalities that may indicate malignancy. Colonoscopy can also aid in determining the cause of bleeding, especially in the context of occult blood, which could be due to polyps or tumors. Routine screening is essential, as early detection of colorectal cancer can lead to more effective treatment outcomes.

In this scenario, while the other options refer to specific conditions that could be relevant to a patient with diverticulosis, they do not address the fundamental purpose of the colonoscopy in this context, which is primarily to screen for colorectal cancer in light of the positive stool occult blood finding.