Developments in Screening Tests and Strategies for Colorectal Cancer.
BACKGROUND
Worldwide, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in men and second most common in women. It is the fourth most common cause of cancer mortality. In the United States, CRC is the third most common cause of cancer and second most common cause of cancer mortality. Incidence and mortality rates have steadily fallen, primarily due to widespread screening.


METHODS
We conducted keyword searches on PubMed in four categories of CRC screening: stool, endoscopic, radiologic, and serum, as well as news searches in Medscape and Google News.


RESULTS
Colonoscopy is the gold standard for CRC screening and the most common method in the United States. Technological improvements continue to be made, including the promising "third-eye retroscope." Fecal occult blood remains widely used, particularly outside the United States. The first at-home screen, a fecal DNA screen, has also recently been approved. Radiological methods are effective but seldom used due to cost and other factors. Serum tests are largely experimental, although at least one is moving closer to market.


CONCLUSIONS
Colonoscopy is likely to remain the most popular screening modality for the immediate future, although its shortcomings will continue to spur innovation in a variety of modalities.
School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 1400 S. Coulter Street, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA.
Justin L
JL
Sovich
School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 1400 S. Coulter Street, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA.
Zachary
Z
Sartor
Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 1400 S. Coulter Street, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA.
Subhasis
S
Misra
D001464:Barium; D053704:Capsule Endoscopy; D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D009780:Occult Blood; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy; D014481:United States
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D001464:Barium