title: First results of the Flemish colorectal cancer screening program : start-up- period late 2013.
abstract: Investigation of the first participation rate and follow-up results of the Flemish colorectal cancer screening program.
  
  
  
  In 2013 five age cohorts with an even age between 66 and 74 year old (n=243 335) were invited by mail to return a completed iFOBT. Participants who tested positive (≥75ng/ml) were referred to a follow-up colonoscopy.
  
  
  
  Participation rate was 48.4% (n=117 774). Overall positivity rate was 10.1%, and 78.1% of those tested positive underwent a colonoscopy. The positive predictive value of colonoscopy for CRC was 8.2%, for advanced adenoma 16.9% and for non-advanced adenoma 36.5%.
  
  
  
  Based on the EU-guidelines 35% was expected as participation for a first screening round, thus a participation rate of 48.4% is more than acceptable for a first screening year. The high positivity rate can partly be explained by including only the older ages in the start-up-period and by the first year of mass screening in Flanders. (Acta gastroenterol. belg., 2016, 79, 421-428).
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoeck
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pringels
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kellen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Herck
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Limbergen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Francart
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Hal
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma; D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009780:Occult Blood