SEPTEMBER 23, 2013
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ACG SmartBrief is an official publication of the ACG. ACG SmartBrief is sponsored by Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America

Clinical Updates
Data underscore benefits of screening for colon cancer
People who undergo endoscopic screening are less likely to develop colorectal cancer than those who aren’t checked, according to new data published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers estimated that 40% of the colon cancers that developed over the study period would have been prevented if all participants in the study had a colonoscopy screening. Survival benefits were greatest with colonoscopy. Long-term mortality risk was lowered by 68% among those screened with colonoscopy and 41% among those screened with sigmoidoscopy.

ACG note: This study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, provides some of the clearest evidence to date that colonoscopy has advantages over sigmoidoscopy for the prevention of colorectal cancer. ACG, AGA and ASGE responded with a press release.