CURRENT CONCEPTS - SCREENING FOR COLORECTAL-CANCER

Colorectal cancer ranks second as a cause of death due to cancer in the United States; approximately 56,000 deaths and 150,000 new cases are predicted this year.1 Improvements in fiberoptic technology over the past two decades have made the elimination of colorectal cancer as a major cause of death a theoretical possibility. Since colonoscopic screening of the entire population is not practical, this procedure must be targeted to those known to be at higher than average risk, as indicated by measurable characteristics. In this article we shall discuss the assessment of risk for colorectal cancer, particularly as it relates to. © 1995, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.