Screening colonoscopy in asymptomatic average-risk African Americans.
BACKGROUND
Recent data indicate that colorectal cancer incidence and mortality in white Americans have been declining since 1985 at a rate of 2% to 3% per year. In African Americans, however, mortality from colorectal cancer appears to be increasing. We sought to evaluate the prevalence of colonic neoplasia in asymptomatic African Americans.


METHODS
We performed a cross-sectional colonoscopy screening study to determine the prevalence of colonic neoplasia in asymptomatic African Americans older than 50 years of age.


RESULTS
One hundred sixty-six subjects were evaluated for the study of whom 121 (69 women) were deemed to be asymptomatic average-risk persons and completed colonoscopy. Forty-two individuals (35%) had a total of 72 adenomas (67 tubular and 5 tubulovillous); 47 (65.3%) of these were proximal to the splenic flexure. Three subjects had an adenoma 1 cm or greater in diameter and none had severe dysplasia.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall prevalence of adenomas in asymptomatic average-risk African Americans was comparable to that of previously described populations. The predominance of right-sided adenomas in this study confirms previous findings and is an area requiring further study. Until this issue is resolved, we suggest the use of colonoscopy rather than sigmoidoscopy for screening for colorectal neoplasia in asymptomatic, average-risk African Americans.
Rex
D K
DK
Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Indiana University School of Medicine, and the Richard A. Roudebush Veterans Administration Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA.
Khan
A M
AM
Shah
P
P
Newton
J
J
Cummings
O W
OW
D018256:Adenomatous Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D001741:Black or African American