title: Familial colorectal cancer screening: When and what to do?
abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of death worldwide and represents a clinical challenge. Family members of patients affected by CRC have an increased risk of CRC development. In these individuals, screening is strongly recommended and should be started earlier than in the population with average risk, in order to detect neoplastic precursors, such as adenoma, advanced adenoma, and nonpolypoid adenomatous lesions of the colon. Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is a non invasive, widespread screening method that can reduce CRC-related mortality. Sigmoidoscopy, alone or in addition to FOBT, represents another screening strategy that reduces CRC mortality. Colonoscopy is the best choice for screening high-risk populations, as it allows simultaneous detection and removal of preneoplastic lesions. The choice of test depends on local health policy and varies among countries.
authors.affiliation: Giovanna Del Vecchio Blanco, Omero Alessandro Paoluzi, Pierpaolo Sileri, Piero Rossi, Giuseppe Sica, Francesco Pallone, Department of Systems Medicine, Gastroenterology Unit, University Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Del Vecchio Blanco
authors.affiliation: Giovanna Del Vecchio Blanco, Omero Alessandro Paoluzi, Pierpaolo Sileri, Piero Rossi, Giuseppe Sica, Francesco Pallone, Department of Systems Medicine, Gastroenterology Unit, University Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Omero Alessandro
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Paoluzi
authors.affiliation: Giovanna Del Vecchio Blanco, Omero Alessandro Paoluzi, Pierpaolo Sileri, Piero Rossi, Giuseppe Sica, Francesco Pallone, Department of Systems Medicine, Gastroenterology Unit, University Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sileri
authors.affiliation: Giovanna Del Vecchio Blanco, Omero Alessandro Paoluzi, Pierpaolo Sileri, Piero Rossi, Giuseppe Sica, Francesco Pallone, Department of Systems Medicine, Gastroenterology Unit, University Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Giovanna Del Vecchio Blanco, Omero Alessandro Paoluzi, Pierpaolo Sileri, Piero Rossi, Giuseppe Sica, Francesco Pallone, Department of Systems Medicine, Gastroenterology Unit, University Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sica
authors.affiliation: Giovanna Del Vecchio Blanco, Omero Alessandro Paoluzi, Pierpaolo Sileri, Piero Rossi, Giuseppe Sica, Francesco Pallone, Department of Systems Medicine, Gastroenterology Unit, University Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pallone
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing; D040941:Heredity; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D009780:Occult Blood; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Advanced adenoma; Colonoscopy; Colorectal cancer screening; Fecal occult blood test; First-degree relative; Sigmoidoscopy