title: Colonoscopic screening of asymptomatic first-degree relatives of colorectal cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  First-degree relatives of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients are at increased risk for developing colorectal neoplasm, and current guidelines recommend screening colonoscopy in such individuals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of colonoscopy as the screening test in asymptomatic first-degree relatives of CRC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Colonoscopy was performed in 102 asymptomatic individuals who had at least one first-degree relatives with CRC. Subjects included in the screening program were aged between 36 and 72 years, and majority came from two counties (Suceava, Iaşi) located in north-eastern Romania.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty colorectal lesions were found in 17 individuals: two (6.6%) had adenocarcinomas, and remaining 15 patients had 28 polypoid lesions: 14 (46.6%) adenomas, 5 (16.6%) tubulovillous adenomas, 3 (10%) adenomas with high grade dysplasia and 6 (20%) had hyperplasic polyps.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Colonoscopy is a useful, feasible and safety initial screening tool for first-degree relatives of patients with CRC.
authors.affiliation: Suceava County Hospital, Gr.T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy laşi.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Croitoru
authors.forename: Anca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trifan
authors.forename: Maria Rusu
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Maxim
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Girleanu
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hulub
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dimache
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stanciu
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009679:Nuclear Family; D011127:Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology