From the Guidelines
The primary purpose of Colorectal Cancer (CRC) screening is to reduce CRC mortality by detecting cancer at an early, curable stage and to decrease CRC incidence by detecting and removing adenomatous polyps. According to the most recent and highest quality study, 1, the NCCN Guidelines recommend CRC screening for average-risk individuals beginning at age 50 years, with options including annual high-sensitivity gFOBT or FIT, sDNA, flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, colonoscopy every 10 years, DCBE every 5 years, or CTC every 5 years.
Key Recommendations
- Average-risk adults should begin CRC screening at age 50 years, with one of the recommended options.
- Individuals at higher risk for CRC, including those with a history of adenomatous polyps, personal history of curative-intent resection of CRC, family history of CRC or colorectal adenomas, or history of inflammatory bowel disease, should undergo more intensive surveillance.
- The choice of screening modality should consider patient preference and resource availability.
Screening Modalities
- Stool-based tests: gFOBT, FIT, sDNA
- Endoscopic and radiologic tests: flexible sigmoidoscopy, optical colonoscopy, DCBE, CTC
Benefits and Harms
- Benefits: reduced CRC mortality, decreased CRC incidence
- Harms: relatively uncommon, but may include gastrointestinal and cardiovascular events, procedure-related fear
Quality Metrics
- Completion of diagnostic testing after a positive CRC screen: 60 days or less
- Regular internal audits to maintain compliance, with biennial inspections expected for moderate and high complexity labs.
By following these recommendations, healthcare providers can help reduce the incidence and mortality of CRC, improving patient outcomes and quality of life.
From the Research
Colorectal Cancer Screening
The provided studies do not directly address the purpose of Colorectal (CRC) cancer screening.
Available Information
The available evidence focuses on celiac disease, its diagnosis, and monitoring, rather than colorectal cancer screening.
- The studies discuss the use of tissue transglutaminase antibodies and endomysium antibodies in diagnosing and monitoring celiac disease 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- They also touch on the importance of serological tests and intestinal biopsy in diagnosing celiac disease 3, 4, 5.
- However, none of the studies provide information on the purpose of colorectal cancer screening.
Limitations
There are no research papers provided that directly assist in answering the question about the purpose of Colorectal (CRC) cancer screening.