New Considerations for Colorectal Cancer Screening Based on the Demographic Profile of Colorectal Cancer in a Greek Population

Colorectal cancer screening has long been recommended for middle age and older individuals. Recent evidence indicates increasing incidence and mortality among young adults. Therefore, the present study re-examined the current recommendations using an asymptomatic average-risk population screened by colonoscopy. A total of 716 participants of a wide age range were prospectively enrolled in an open-access endoscopic screening program based on self-referral. Comparisons between different age, gender and location groups, and receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) curves for best age selection for detection of lesions were employed. Increased incidence of advanced lesions was observed in adults <50 years old. Although the polyp size was <1 cm in 85% of the cohort, a significant number of participants harbored advanced lesions. A disturbing incidence of lesions in women 30-49 years was located mainly in the left colon. One-third of the important pathology resides exclusively in the right colon. ROC curves demonstrated that with the current starting age of screening at 50 years, 92% of polyps and 95% of adenomas could be detected by colonoscopy, but a number of potential precancerous lesions will appear at an earlier age and therefore will be missed. The present study supported the notion that it is critical to reduce screening initiation below the currently accepted age of 50 years. Colonoscopy is a suitable method for addressing the increased prevalence of proximal lesions and the meticulous resection of smaller polyps.