Colonoscopic findings in first-degree relatives of patients with colorectal cancer: a population-based screening program

Adenoma, advanced adenoma and colorectal cancer prevalence in asymptomatic 40‐ to 49‐year‐old subjects with a first‐degree family history of colorectal cancer

“…Our study has shown a high overall prevalence of adenoma (18.1%) and advanced adenoma (6.4%) in FDRs of CRC patients. These figures are in keeping with previous data and confirm a high risk of advanced neoplasia in subjects with a family history of CRC. Men were found to be at higher risk (OR = 2.26), as previously reported .…”

How is the increased risk of colorectal cancer in first-degree relatives of patients communicated?

“…Rates of FDRs who undergo a screening colonoscopy can be improved by recommendation and/or invitation for a screening colonoscopy by a medical practitioner, regular visits to medical institutions, discussion of screening with relatives with CRC, and good accessibility of the screening examination [3,29]. An Italian study showed that a multistage appointment for screening colonoscopy for FDRs led to a high rate of participation (75.6%) [30]. In 2011, the Swiss National Cancer Program 2011-2015 (set up by Oncosuisse, Berne, Switzerland) campaigned for an advancement of colon cancer screening for people aged 50-69 years regardless of family history, either by colonoscopy every 10 years or by fecal blood test every 2 years (followed by colonoscopy, if positive).…”

Colonoscopy findings in high-risk individuals compared to an average-risk control population

“…A few studies have, like ours, used a wellselected control population, which underwent colonoscopy for the sole purpose of a study [38,39]. These studies examined first-degree relatives of CRC patients, and as control they employed volunteers for colonoscopy screening [38] or well-matched controls from screening of individuals without family history [39]. The prevalence of advanced adenomas was also higher in the FDR of CRC patients than in controls; 11.3% versus 6.3% [38] and 7.5 versus 2.9%, respectively [39].…”