The interval between flexible sigmoidoscopy screening examinations can be expanded beyond five years.
OBJECTIVE
As one of the methods for colorectal cancer screening, asymptomatic average-risk persons aged > or = 50 years are recommended to undergo flexible sigmoidoscopy screening every 5 years. We evaluate whether the interval between examinations can be extended beyond 5 years.


METHODS
A total of 192 asymptomatic average-risk subjects were studied, all of whom had undergone a initial negative examination on a flexible sigmoidoscopy screening at age > or = 50 years and a second examination at least 3 years later. The study population was divided into three groups according to the interval between examinations, which was 3-5 years in Group A, 5-6 years in Group B, and 6-8 years in Group C.


RESULTS
The incidence of neoplasms was compared among the three subjects groups, and it was found to be similar: 11/96 (11.5%) in group A, 4/55 (7.3%) in group B, and 5/41 (12.2%) in group C. All detected adenomas were less than 10 mm in diameter, and none contained a villous component or high-grade dysplasia. No cancers were found in the study.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the interval for screening sigmoidoscopy may be extended beyond 5 years in persons showing negative results on an initial examination.
Yoshinaga
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine, Fukuoka Teishin Hospital, 2-6-11 Yakuin, Fukuoka 810-8798, Japan. m-yoshi@winter.try-net.or.jp
Watabe
R
R
Yanagisawa
J
J
Harada
N
N
Motomura
S
S
Nawata
H
H
Ikeda
K
K
D000236:Adenoma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*