The aim: to focus on the possibilities of modern endoscopy in the diagnosis of laterally spreading (creeping) tumors — LST (laterally spreading tumor) of the colon. Materials and methods: description and comparison, based on data available in the literature, of modern endoscopic techniques for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of LST. Results: the analysis and systematization of the obtained data revealed the advantages of modern endoscopic diagnostic methods not only in detecting LST, but also in predicting their morphological structure. Conclusion: the use of modern endoscopic diagnostic methods allows not only to improve the detection of neoplasms, but also to choose the best options for further treatment based on the information received. © Eksperimental'naya i Klinicheskaya Gastroenterologiya 2021.