When Less May Be Enough in Colorectal Cancer Testing

FEATURED SEARCH:    colorectal cancer


Extensive examination of lymph nodes among colon cancer patients is intended to yield improved odds of survival. But this report casts doubt on examining lymph nodes to upstage colon cancer. In an observational cohort of more than 86,000 patients, the average number of lymph nodes examined rose significantly over a 20-year period. But the proportion of node-positive colon cancers did not.


RESULT: Association Between Lymph Node Evaluation for Colon Cancer and Node Positivity Over the Past 20 Years
Journal of the American Medical Association | Sep 14, 2011 (FREE FULL TEXT)


Is a single flexible sigmoidoscopy at around age 60 sufficient to screen for colon cancer? The results of this Italian randomized controlled trial involving more than 34,000 patients provide reason to consider the possibility. A single flexible sigmoidoscopy screening between ages 55 and 64 substantially reduced colorectal cancer incidence (by 31%) and mortality (by 38%), compared to the outcomes among controls who were not screened.


RESULT: Once-Only Sigmoidoscopy in Colorectal Cancer Screening: Follow-up Findings of the Italian Randomized Controlled Trial—SCORE
Journal of National Cancer Institute | Sep 7, 2011 (Free abstract. Full text $32)