Cost analysis of the use of digital rectoscopy versus flexible sigmoidoscopy in rectal cancer patients…

StudyBMJ open· Jun 2026

Cost analysis of the use of digital rectoscopy versus flexible sigmoidoscopy in rectal cancer patients undergoing watch and wait.

Harpreet Kaur Sekhon Inderjit Singh, Holly Harper, Valentin Butnari … Arnold Goede

Colon & Rectal SurgeryStudyClinical practiceQ1IF 2.5

Digital proctoscopy saves at least £820 per patient versus flexible sigmoidoscopy monitoring.

Cost analysis of the use of digital rectoscopy versus flexible sigmoidoscopy in rectal cancer patients undergoing watch and wait.

Harpreet Kaur Sekhon Inderjit Singh … Arnold Goede

BMJ open · Jun 2026 · Q1 in General Medicine

Background

Organ preservation strategies for rectal cancer following neoadjuvant treatment require intensive endoscopic monitoring to detect early luminal recurrence.

Methods

The study was conducted in a secondary care National Health Service (National Health Service) setting.

n = 177 procedures

£820.23

Results

£820.23

digital proctoscopy cuts monitoring costs versus flexible sigmoidoscopy per patient over 2 years

n = 177 procedures

More results

The primary outcome was the minimum cost difference between the two procedures.

The secondary outcome measure was the robustness of the cost differences.

More results

Over 2 years, the total cost per patient was £768.92 (95% CI £656.6 to £900.7) for digital proctoscopy compared with £1,588.15 (95% CI £1458.1 to £1725.2) for flexible sigmoidoscopy without sedation.

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Digital proctoscopy with the LumenEye device is a cost-saving alternative to flexible sigmoidoscopy for patients with rectal cancer on a WAW protocol.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Our findings support the integration of digital proctoscopy into WAW pathways as a cost-efficient alternative within resource-constrained healthcare systems. Endoscopy service pressures are also likely to be alleviated.

Cost analysis of the use of digital rectoscopy versus flexible sigmoidoscopy in rectal cancer patients undergoing watch and wait.

Cost analysis of the use of digital rectoscopy versus flexible sigmoidoscopy in rectal cancer patients undergoing watch and wait.

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