BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The province of Ferrara has one of the highest incidences of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Italy. In January 2000, we set up a colonoscopy screening program focussing on first-degree relatives of CRC patients. We now report the results 5 years after the beginning of the project. SCREENEES AND METHODS: In October 1999, we started a campaign stressing the usefulness of colonoscopy for the first-degree relatives of CRC patients. Subjects included in the screening program were aged between 45 and 75 years with at least one first-degree relative affected by CRC. They were invited to an interview where a physician suggested colonoscopy as a screening option. RESULTS: In 5 years, 776 subjects were interviewed and 733 (94.4\%) agreed to an endoscopic examination (M/F:375/401; mean age 55 years): 562 colonoscopies were performed. Adenomas and cancers were found in 122 (21.7\%) and 12 (2.1\%) subjects, respectively. Histological examination in 181 persons with lesions (32.8\%) showed (most serious lesion quoted) 47 hyperplastic polyps (26\% of all lesions), 2 serrated adenomas (1.1\%), 68 tubular adenomas (48\%), 24 tubulovillous adenomas (13.3\%), 9 adenomas with high grade dysplasia (5\%) and 12 adenocarcinomas (6.6\%). The majority of the cancers were at an early stage (8 Dukes A and 3 Dukes B). Sedation was used in only 42 colonoscopies (7.5\%). CONCLUSIONS: A colonoscopy-based screening in this selected high-risk population is feasible. Even without sedation subjects readily agreed to the endoscopic procedure. We identified a significant number of advanced neoplasms and cancers at an early stage suggesting that this could be a useful tool in early identification of CRC.
Colorectal cancer screening: results of a 5-year program in asymptomatic subjects at increased risk.
PEZZOLI, Alessandro;RUBINI, Michele;STOCKBRUGGER, Reinhold;FEO, Carlo;SIMONE, Loredana;LIBONI, Alberto;GULLINI, Sergio
2007
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The province of Ferrara has one of the highest incidences of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Italy. In January 2000, we set up a colonoscopy screening program focussing on first-degree relatives of CRC patients. We now report the results 5 years after the beginning of the project. SCREENEES AND METHODS: In October 1999, we started a campaign stressing the usefulness of colonoscopy for the first-degree relatives of CRC patients. Subjects included in the screening program were aged between 45 and 75 years with at least one first-degree relative affected by CRC. They were invited to an interview where a physician suggested colonoscopy as a screening option. RESULTS: In 5 years, 776 subjects were interviewed and 733 (94.4\%) agreed to an endoscopic examination (M/F:375/401; mean age 55 years): 562 colonoscopies were performed. Adenomas and cancers were found in 122 (21.7\%) and 12 (2.1\%) subjects, respectively. Histological examination in 181 persons with lesions (32.8\%) showed (most serious lesion quoted) 47 hyperplastic polyps (26\% of all lesions), 2 serrated adenomas (1.1\%), 68 tubular adenomas (48\%), 24 tubulovillous adenomas (13.3\%), 9 adenomas with high grade dysplasia (5\%) and 12 adenocarcinomas (6.6\%). The majority of the cancers were at an early stage (8 Dukes A and 3 Dukes B). Sedation was used in only 42 colonoscopies (7.5\%). CONCLUSIONS: A colonoscopy-based screening in this selected high-risk population is feasible. Even without sedation subjects readily agreed to the endoscopic procedure. We identified a significant number of advanced neoplasms and cancers at an early stage suggesting that this could be a useful tool in early identification of CRC.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
