MONDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- A first colonoscopy that includes removal of polyps may significantly reduce the subsequent risk of dying from colorectal cancer, according to research presented this week at the 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in Philadelphia, Pa.
Ann G. Zauber, Ph.D., of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, and colleagues analyzed National Polyp Study data with a MISCAN model to predict colorectal cancer mortality in patients who undergo initial polypectomy without follow-up surveillance, undergo initial polypectomy with follow-up surveillance, or do not undergo initial polypectomy or follow-up surveillance.
The researchers' model found that initial polypectomy, with or without follow-up surveillance, may be associated with a dramatic reduction in expected colorectal cancer mortality.
In patients who have had polyps removed, these findings may support recommendations to extend the interval for follow-up surveillance to six or more years, the authors stated. In patients with prior colorectal cancer, prior adenomas or disease which causes increased risk of colorectal cancer, the American College of Gastroenterology currently recommends surveillance colonoscopy every three to five years.
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