title: Results of the FIT-based National Colorectal Cancer Screening Program in Slovenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies in the western world.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to assess the first round of fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based National CRC screening program (NCSP).
  
  
  METHODS
  In the NCSP conducted in Slovenia, a FIT and colonoscopy for those tested positive was used. The NCSP central unit sent 536,709 invitations to Slovenian residents age 50 to 69 years old between 2009 and 2011. The adherence rate was 56.9% (303,343 participants). FIT was positive in 6.2% (15,310) of the participants (men, 7.8%; women, 5.0%; P<0.01). A total of 13,919 unsedated colonoscopies were performed with the cecal intubation rate of 97.8%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall adenoma detection rate was 51.3% [95% confidence interval (CI), 50.5%-52.1%] of which 61.0% (95% CI, 59.9%-62.1%) was in men, and 39.1% (95% CI, 37.8%-40.3%) in women (P<0.01). The mean number of adenoma per positive colonoscopy was 1.94 (95% CI, 1.90-1.97). Adenoma, advanced adenoma, or cancer were found in 7732 (55.5%) colonoscopies. A total of 862 (6.2%) CRC cases were found. Only 161 (18.7%) carcinomas were situated in the right colon. A total of 597 (70.2%) patients with cancer were in the early clinical stages (N, negative; 194 22.8%) of all cancers were cured with only endoscopic resection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the NCSP, CRC was found in 6.2% of those participants attending colonoscopy, with 81.3% of carcinomas found in the left colon. A localized clinical stage was found in 70.2% participants. In 22.8% of CRC patients, cancer was cured with endoscopic resection only.
authors.affiliation: *AM DC Rogaška, Rogaška Slatina †University Clinical Center ‡National Institute for Public Health, Ljubljana §DC Bled, Bled, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Bojan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tepeš
authors.forename: Matej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bracko
authors.forename: Dominika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Novak Mlakar
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stefanovic
authors.forename: Borut
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stabuc
authors.forename: Snjezana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frkovic Grazio
authors.forename: Jozica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maucec Zakotnik
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005243:Feces; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007120:Immunochemistry; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017524:Slovenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome