As a practicing gastroenterologist, my colleagues and I spend much of our professional careers dedicated to the screening, surveillance, and treatment of colorectal cancer and precursor lesions called adenomas. Around 1.9 million colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed worldwide every year.[i] Without early diagnosis, nearly half of those cases will be fatal.[ii]
Dr. Craig Munroe
Gastroenterologist and Global Lead, Medical Affairs, GI Endo Therapy, Olympus
The good news is that colorectal cancer and adenomas are highly treatable and curable when detected at early stages. Patients have options when it comes to effectively screening for colon cancer. Options include non-invasive stool tests, which can be taken at home, and direct visualization tests, the most accurate of which is colonoscopy. Although some newer blood tests are also available, longer-term data on their effectiveness is unknown, and the blood tests do not replace colonoscopy.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults ages 45 to 75 at average risk be screened for colorectal cancer.[iii] Exams should be performed earlier in the presence of family history or medical conditions. Ask your healthcare provider for more information if you have questions about your individual risk. You can also visit colonoscopytoday.com to learn more and find a doctor for colonoscopy screening.
Why do we perform colonoscopies?
Colonoscopies are performed to visually inspect the walls of the colon for several abnormalities that could be a healthcare concern for patients now or in the future. One of the most common findings during screening colonoscopy is an adenoma.
An adenoma is a growth of abnormal tissue on the surface of the colon that may have the potential to transform into colon cancer over many years. Adenomas usually have no symptoms.
When gastroenterologists perform colonoscopy in practice, we are trained to be able to see and remove adenomas, which are then sent to the lab for analysis by our pathologist colleagues. Usually referred to as colon polyps, these adenomas are common, especially as you get older. Over 1 in 3 adults have adenomas.[iv]
When found at early stages, they are easily removed. An endoscopist’s ability to find polyps during colonoscopy is known as their Adenoma Detection Rate, or ADR — a measurement of how often the endoscopist detects adenomas during procedures. This is an important number as research has shown that for every 1% increase in ADR, the risk of a fatal cancer developing between screening colonoscopies decreases by 3-5%.[v]
Medical technology development has been integral to the improvement of colonoscopy over the years. In fact, the field of gastroenterology is inextricably linked to these technological advancements.
Olympus, a leading medical technology company and a pioneer in gastrointestinal endoscopy, is committed to making screening more accessible and effective. Innovations in endoscopy, such as high-definition endoscopes, special tools we use for therapies and enhanced imaging capabilities, have rapidly advanced the field of endoscopy. These innovations have occurred in partnership with clinicians, as our scientific knowledge continues to grow.
An intelligent horizon
As we look to the future of GI endoscopy, I am filled with hope for how we all can positively impact patients in the communities they live in. The ultimate vision is an Intelligent Endoscopy Ecosystem — one that connects innovation, expertise, and AI decision support systems to allow more time for physicians to concentrate on our primary objective: taking care of our patients.
[i] Colorectal Cancer. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/colorectal-cancer. July 11, 2023.
[ii] Screening and Surveillance for Colorectal Cancer Expanded Information. FASCRS.org. https://fascrs.org/patients/diseases-and-conditions/a-z. Accessed Nov. 25, 2024.
[iii] U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, “Final Recommendation Statement, Colorectal Cancer: Screening.” May 18, 2021.
[iv] Patient Education: Colon Polyps. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/colon-polyps-beyond-the-basics/print. Accessed November 22, 2024.
[v] Corley, D.A., Jensen, C.D., Marks, A.R., Zhao, W.K., Lee, J.K., Doubeni, C.A., Zauber, A.G., de Boer, J., Fireman, B.H., Schottinger, J.E. and Quinn, V.P., 2014. Adenoma detection rate and risk of colorectal cancer and death. New England journal of medicine, 370(14), pp.1298-1306.
