New Guidelines Stress Importance of Colonoscopy at Age 50

The U.S. Multisociety Task Force on Colorectal Cancer has issued new guidelines emphasizing the importance of getting an initial screening colonoscopy at age 50, but easing the requirement for follow-up exams if suspect polyps are found and removed.

The update of guidelines originally published in 1997 says that the first screening generally detects the largest and most dangerous polyps, says that the previous recommendation that a follow-up colonoscopy be conducted after three years may not be terribly useful because polyps do not grow that fast.

The new guidelines recommend that the first follow-up examination for low-risk patients be conducted after five years.

But reporting on their recommendations in the journal Gasroenterology, the task force emphasizd anew the importance of a colonoscopy as the "preferred test" of screening for colorectal cancer.

"Promising new screening tests (virtual colonoscopy and tests for altered DNA in stool) are in development but are not yet ready for use outside of research studies," the task force said.

"Colonoscopy allows us to visualize the entire colon, and to detect and remove polyps in one procedure. It's invaluable in patients who are at high risk of developing colorectal cancer," added task force member Dr. Douglas Rex of the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Other Sources: Gastroenterology