Colorectal cancer screening

## Contents

* 1 Overview
* 2 Clinical practice guidelines
* 3 Screening protocols summarized in the figures below:
* 4 Types of Screening Methods
* 4.1 Fecal Occult Blood Testing
* 4.2 Endoscopy
* 4.3 CT colonography
* 4.4 Fecal DNA testing
* 5 Accuracy of screening methods
* 6 References

Colorectal cancer Microchapters

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To view the screening of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), click here
To view the screening of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), click here

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: ; Roukoz A. Karam, M.D.[2] Elliot B. Tapper, M.D.; Saarah T. Alkhairy, M.D.

## Overview[edit | edit source]

Early detection of premalignant colorectal masses or early-stage colorectal cancers is essential in treating these patients and possibly preventing cancer or colorectal cancer related death. According to the USPSTF (United States Preventive Services Task Force): Screening for colorectal cancer is recommended among adults older than 50 years of age and do not have an increased risk of developing the disease (average-risk adults).

## Clinical practice guidelines[edit | edit source]

According to the USPSTF (United States Preventive Services Task Force):[1]

* Screening for colorectal cancer is recommended among adults older than 50 years of age and do not have an increased risk of developing the disease (average-risk adults).
* Decision to screen for colorectal cancer among adults aged 76 to 85 years is an individual one.
* Screening would be more beneficial for healthier individuals that are able to undergo possible treatment.
* Screening for colorectal cancer among adults aged 86 years and older is not recommended.
* No preference is given to one screening modality over the other
* Decision should be shared and according to the patient's preferences when it comes to choosing an option.
* Screening options:[1]
1. Colonoscopy
2. FIT
* Fecal immunochemical testing for occult blood
3. Flexible sigmoidoscopy
4. Flexible sigmoidoscopy \+ FIT
5. CT colonography
6. FIT-DNA
* multitargeted stool DNA testing
7. gFOBT
* Guaiac-based fecal occult blood testing

Screening for colorectal cancer in individuals that are at increased risk of developing the disease is different and depends on several factors:[2][1]

* Family history of colorectal cancer before age 50
* Begin screening at an earlier age
* Risk of rapid disease progression
* Perform screening more frequently
* Family history of HNPCC or FAP
* Use most sensitive screening modality: colonoscopy

## Screening protocols summarized in the figures below:[edit | edit source]

Protocols have been summarized according to USPSTF guidelines.[1]

Screening protocol for average risk patients

Screening protocol for moderate risk patients Screening protocol for high risk patients

## Types of Screening Methods[edit | edit source]

### Fecal Occult Blood Testing[edit | edit source]

* A fecal occult blood test is a test for blood in the stool.
* There are two types of tests that can be used for detecting occult blood in stools:[1][3]
1. FIT
* Fecal immunochemical testing for occult blood
2. gFOBT
* Guaiac-based fecal occult blood testing
* Use of low-sensitivity guaiac fecal tests is not recommended due to its of low sensitivity.[1]

### Endoscopy[edit | edit source]

* A sigmoidoscopy is a lighted probe (sigmoidoscope) that is inserted into the rectum and lower colon to check for polyps and other abnormalities.[4]
* A colonoscopy is a lighted probe (colonoscope) that is inserted into the rectum and the entire colon to look for polyps and other abnormalities that may be caused by cancer. A colonoscopy has the advantage that if polyps are found during the procedure they can be immediately removed, and the tissue can also be taken for biopsy. The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy has released quality indicators for screening colonoscopy, which include:[4]

* Documentation of prep quality
* Photo documentation of cecal intubation
* Withdrawal time of 6 minutes or more
* Adenoma detection rate of greater than 25% in males and 15% in females greater than 50 years old

### CT colonography[edit | edit source]

* Also known as Virtual Colonoscopy
* Requires special workstation software in order for the radiologist to interpret
* This technique is approaching colonoscopy in sensitivity for polyps
* Any polyps found must still be removed by standard colonoscopy[5]

### Fecal DNA testing[edit | edit source]

* Multitargeted stool DNA testing
* Ability to detect mutations from DNA shed by colorectal cancer[6]

## Accuracy of screening methods[edit | edit source]

Advanced adenomas are defined as being ≥10 mm, having villous histology, or having high grade dysplasia. Advanced neoplasia is defined as cancer or advanced adenoma[7].

Accuracy of screening tests to detect colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas[8].  Method  | Sensitivity  | Specificity

|
|

Colorectal cancer
Colonoscopy  | NA  | NA
Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)  | 74  | 94
Cologuard (sDNA + FIT)  | 93  | 85
Advanced adenoma
Colonoscopy (for adenoma > 10 mm)  | 89 to 95  | NA
Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)  | 23  | 96
Cologuard (sDNA + FIT)  | 43  | 89

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 US Preventive Services Task Force. Bibbins-Domingo K, Grossman DC, Curry SJ, Davidson KW, Epling JW; et al. (2016). "Screening for Colorectal Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement". JAMA. 315 (23): 2564–2575. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.5989. PMID 27304597.CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
2. ↑ Lieberman, David A. (2009). "Screening for Colorectal Cancer". New England Journal of Medicine. 361 (12): 1179–1187. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp0902176. ISSN 0028-4793.
3. ↑ Duffy MJ, van Rossum LG, van Turenhout ST, Malminiemi O, Sturgeon C, Lamerz R; et al. (2011). "Use of faecal markers in screening for colorectal neoplasia: a European group on tumor markers position paper". Int J Cancer. 128 (1): 3–11. doi:10.1002/ijc.25654. PMID 20824704.CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Rex DK, Petrini JL, Baron TH, Chak A, Cohen J, Deal SE; et al. (2006). "Quality indicators for colonoscopy". Am J Gastroenterol. 101 (4): 873–85. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2006.00673.x. PMID 16635231.CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
5. ↑ Morrin MM, LaMont JT (2003). "Screening virtual colonoscopy--ready for prime time?". N Engl J Med. 349 (23): 2261–4. doi:10.1056/NEJMe038181. PMID 14657435.
6. ↑ Calistri D, Rengucci C, Bocchini R, Saragoni L, Zoli W, Amadori D (2003). "Fecal multiple molecular tests to detect colorectal cancer in stool". Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 1 (5): 377–83. PMID 15017656.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
7. ↑ Lin JS, Piper MA, Perdue LA, Rutter C, Webber EM, O’Connor E; et al. (2016). "Screening for Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force". U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Evidence Syntheses, formerly Systematic Evidence Reviews. PMID 27441328.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
8. ↑ Lin JS, Perdue LA, Henrikson NB, Bean SI, Blasi PR (2021). "Screening for Colorectal Cancer: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force". JAMA. 325 (19): 1978–1997. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.4417. PMID 34003220 Check `|pmid=` value (help).CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)

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