Colonoscopy May Detect Curable Cancer in Elderly:
Study
05/22/12
TUESDAY, May 22 (HealthDay News) -- Colonoscopies helped doctors
detect a high rate of curable cancer in elderly people who had the
screening for the first time, a new study indicates.
The findings suggest that screenings should be made available to
otherwise healthy elderly people who have never been tested, Dr.
Therese Kerwel, research fellow at Grand Rapids Medical Education
Partners, and colleagues from Spectrum Health Medical Group in
Grand Rapids, Mich., concluded.
For the study, the investigators examined information on 903
outpatient colonoscopies among elderly patients. Specifically, they
investigated why these people, aged 76 to 85, underwent a
colonoscopy and analyzed the results of the screenings.
The study revealed that patients who had never had a colonoscopy
before had a cancer rate of 9.4 percent, much higher than those who
had had the procedure before.
The findings are scheduled for presentation Tuesday at the
Digestive Disease Week meeting in San Diego.
All of the patients diagnosed with colon cancer underwent
successful surgery, the researchers noted in a meeting news
release. In each of these cases the cancers had not yet spread
throughout the patients' bodies. The study authors said their
findings underscore the importance of colonoscopies.
However, they noted, the use of routine screening colonoscopy in
the elderly has become controversial since the U.S. Preventive
Services Task Force determined in 2008 that the risks of the
procedure outweigh the benefits in people aged 76 and older.
But, Kerwel said, "It is worthwhile to offer a screening
colonoscopy for elderly patients in good health and functional
status who have never previously undergone the test."
The data and conclusions of research presented at medical
meetings should be viewed as preliminary until published in a
peer-reviewed journal.
More information
The U.S. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
has more about
colonoscopies.
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