Published 31 May 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b2084
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b2084

Editorials

Sigmoidoscopy screening for colorectal cancer

May reduce mortality, but longer term results are awaited

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Evidence supporting colorectal screening, aside from randomised trials of faecal occult blood testing, comes mainly from observational studies. In the linked paper (doi:10.1136/bmj.b1846) interim results of the Norwegian Colorectal Cancer Prevention (NORCCAP) trial are presented.¹ NORCCAP is one of three ongoing trials of once only screening sigmoidoscopy.^{1 2 3} The findings suggest that the intervention may be effective in reducing mortality from colorectal cancer.

The NORCCAP trial randomised 55 736 people aged 55-64 years to usual care or to once only flexible sigmoidoscopy with or without a single round of immunochemical faecal occult blood testing. The primary outcome for this first report is 7 year cumulative incidence of colorectal cancer (anywhere in the colon); the secondary outcome is 6 year mortality from colorectal cancer. Colonoscopy, which was done in 21% of patients screened, was recommended for people with a positive screening result, defined as any polyp 10 mm or larger . . . [Full text of this article]

¹ Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA, ² Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5121, USA

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    StumbleUpon    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Risk of colorectal cancer seven years after flexible sigmoidoscopy screening: randomised controlled trial

Geir Hoff, Tom Grotmol, Eva Skovlund, Michael Bretthauer, and for the Norwegian Colorectal Cancer Prevention Study Group
BMJ 2009 338: b1846. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• (2009). More Evidence Supports Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Screening. JWatch Gastroenterology 2009: 3-3 [Full text]  
• (2009). Colorectal Cancer After Screening with Flexible Sigmoidoscopy. JWatch General 2009: 5-5 [Full text]  

Online poll

Find out more >>