title: Screening for colon cancer.
abstract: Colorectal cancer screening reduces mortality in individuals 50 years and older. Each of the screening tests currently available has advantages and limitations, and there is no consensus as to which test or combination of tests is best. What is clear, however, is that the rates of colorectal cancer screening remain low. This review summarizes the clinical evidence supporting colorectal cancer screening in the average risk population and in high risk groups, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the available screening tests, outlines the currently recommended guidelines for screening based on risk category, and discusses new and emerging technologies for colorectal cancer screening.
authors.affiliation: Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. heikenj@wustl.edu
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Heiken
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D004733:Enema / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009386:Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D009780:Occult Blood; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D001466:Barium Sulfate