A recent study by ITA investigators led by Amy Knudsen, PhD suggests that it may be reasonable to rescreen for colorectal cancer with methods other than colonoscopy following an initial negative exam. Using a microsimulation model of colorectal cancer, researchers found that rescreening at age 60 with colonoscopy every 10 years, CT colonography (aka “virtual colonoscopy”) every 5 years, or fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) every year greatly reduced the risk for colorectal cancer compared with no further screening. All rescreening strategies provided roughly the same benefit in terms of life-years gained compared with no further screening. However, rescreening with CT colonography, FOBT, or FIT reduced the risk for complications and cost less than rescreening with colonoscopy. The authors estimate that for every person who switches to FOBT or FIT following a negative initial colonoscopy, $450 to $495 could be saved over his or her lifetime. On a population level, switching could lead to savings of $3 billion.
News Coverage:
Reuters – http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/05/us-colon-cancer-idUSBRE8A41KT20121105
Fox News – http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/11/06/1-colonoscopy-may-be-enough-for-lifetime/
Huffington Post – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/10/colonoscopy-once-in-a-lifetime_n_2089910.html