Coloscopy, or colonoscopy?

Summary

In current medical and lay communication practice, the terms coloscopy and colonoscopy appear in parallel, and their usage is quite varied. The conclusion of the article is neither the form coloscopy nor the form colonoscopy is to be rejected. The final form depends on how the term got into Czech medical terminology – whether directly from Greek or via French (coloscopy) or through English (colonoscopy). As far as the professional-medical discourse is concerned, the article supports those opinions that recommend the unification of the first variant for professional medical practice, i.e. term coloscopy as a direct adaptation of the Greek word. However, regarding common practice in relation to patients, the fact that the term colonoscopy is more frequent and more familiar to users cannot be neglected; therefore, it cannot be rejected.

Keywords:

incidence – colonoscopy – terminology – etymology – coloscopy – frequency