Interval Colorectal Cancer Low with Surveillance Colonoscopy

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Nov 21, 2015 | Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira

Surveillance is recommended for patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as they have an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). According to recent study data, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the incidence of interval colorectal cancers, (cancers occurring between scheduled surveillance colonoscopies), is low in patients undergoing regular surveillance colonoscopy. Dr. John Kisiel, M.D., explains how current surveillance guidelines may impact interval CRC.

Dr. Kisiel underscores two important facts:

• Surveillance guidelines practiced in the United States are appropriate, and, "although they are conservative, we are catching more cancers."
• The authors of the study found that 20% of the patients had low grade dysplasia, which are low grade pre-cancers. These are cancers that doctors want to find on surveillance exams, so that they can be treated in a timely manner and prevent the development of cancer.

Read the full study online here.

For more information about IBD, visit mayoclinic.org/ibd.

Dr. Kisiel is a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic.