Colonoscopy Negative for Colon Cancer Means Low Risk 5 Years Later

The New England Journal of Medicine reported a study analyzing when a person should get a repeat colonoscopy after having a colonoscopy which was negative for colon cancer.  Colonoscopy is the standard test for finding and diagnosing colon cancer. 

It is recommended that all persons get colonoscopy beginning at age 50.  There is not agreement about when people should get repeat colonoscopy after a colonoscopy that is negative for colon cancer.  For example, the US Multisociety Task Force on Colorectal Cancer recommends every 10 years.  The American Cancer Society also recommends every 10 years.  The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends colonoscopy at 50 but does not say how frequently thereafter.

This study attempts to answer that question.

In this study, the researchers identified 2436 persons who had colonoscopy and no adenomas were found.  These same people then had a colonoscopy 5 years later.  At that time, no cancers were found.  They found adenomas in 201 people and only 19 advanced adenomas.  An advanced adenoma is the type of polyp most often associated with colon cancer.  Most colon cancer develops from adenomas.

Based on these results the researchers concluded that a person who has had a negative colonoscopy has an extremely low risk of cancer within 5 years.  They also concluded that there was a low risk of advanced adenoma within 5 years of a negative colonoscopy.

The researchers recommend that repeat colonoscopy be done 5 years after an initial negative colonoscopy.

The research was led by Dr. Thomas Imperiale at Indiana University Medical Center.

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