Colorectal cancer screening lacks evidence of benefit.
Although some studies indicate that screening with fecal occult blood testing or colonoscopy prevents deaths from colorectal cancer, the benefits may be offset by more deaths from other causes. Whether this phenomenon is due to anxiety, test bias, or merely chance, more evidence is needed; widespread screening in the general population is premature.
Moayyedi
Paul
P
Division of Gastroenterology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. moayyep@mcmaster.ca
D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D012307:Risk Factors; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy