Colorectal-cancer incidence and mortality with screening flexible sigmoidoscopy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The benefits of endoscopic testing for colorectal-cancer screening are uncertain. We evaluated the effect of screening with flexible sigmoidoscopy on colorectal-cancer incidence and mortality.

Methods

From 1993 through 2001, we randomly assigned 154,900 men and women 55 to 74 years of age either to screening with flexible sigmoidoscopy, with a repeat screening at 3 or 5 years, or to usual care. Cases of colorectal cancer and deaths from the disease were ascertained.

Results

Of the 77,445 participants randomly assigned to screening (intervention group), 83.5% underwent baseline flexible sigmoidoscopy and 54.0% were screened at 3 or 5 years. The incidence of colorectal cancer after a median follow-up of 11.9 years was 11.9 cases per 10,000 person-years in the

SUBMITTER: Schoen RE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3641846 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature