[Screening the population for colorectal cancer: the background to a number of pilot studies in the Netherlands].
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the Netherlands, where it is now the second most commonly-occurring cancer in terms of both incidence (10,000 new cases each year) and mortality rate (4,400 each year). - In 40% of all cases the disease is diagnosed at a late stage, which is associated with a poor outcome. - Research has shown that screening of the general population for colorectal cancer by means of the faecal occult blood test (FOBT) results in a reduction in mortality of approximately 16%. Whether endoscopic screening will result in a greater reduction in the mortality rate is currently under investigation. - This year, the first pilot study on implementation of screening for colorectal cancer using two different types of FOBT will start in the Netherlands.
van Rijn
A F
AF
Academisch Medisch Centrum/Universiteit van Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam.
Dekker
E
E
Kleibeuker
J H
JH
D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008403:Mass Screening; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009780:Occult Blood; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy