Why the colonoscopy is the “gold standard” for CRC screening.
The colonoscopy has long been regarded as the “gold standard” for colorectal cancer (CRC) screenings. This is due to its ability to identify and remove precancerous polyps in one procedure. While patients may see the necessity for anesthesia, a designated driver, time off from work, and required fasting prior to the procedure as a hassle, there remains no other option that can provide as much insight and clarity as the standard colonoscopy.
The Impact of the Colonoscopy
Goshen Health states that “colonoscopies have shown an 89% reduction in cancer incidences.” It shows that they have led to a “90% survival rate when the colorectal cancer is found and treated early.” The procedure is also 100% covered by insurance as a preventive screening. Colonoscopies are recommended for patients every 10 years, now beginning at age 45. This age was lowered from age 50 following a May 2021 guideline update by the United States Preventive Services Task Force.
According to the University of Chicago, it is recommended that adults at average risk continue regular CRC screenings up to age 75. Any screening decisions after age 75 should be made jointly with clinicians based on patient preferences, health status, and life expectancy. Patients over age 85 are discouraged from continued screenings. Patients with a family history of colorectal cancer or at an increased risk for the disease should consult with their clinician to determine an appropriate starting time for initial screenings.
Considerations for African American Patients
While family history plays a role in increased risk for colorectal cancer, African Americans as a population group also find themselves at higher risk. Here are some findings from a July 2017 report by the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy regarding increased risk for the African American population:
- The incidences of CRC are higher in African Americans than any other population group in the United States.
- Death rates from CRC are higher among African Americans than any other population group in the United States.
- There is evidence that African Americans are less likely than Caucasians to get screening tests for CRC.
- There may be genetic factors that contribute to the higher incidence of CRC among some African Americans.
- African American women have the same chance of getting CRC as men and are more likely to die of CRC than women of any other racial or ethnic group.
Analyzing Other Options
Patients may see colonoscopy alternatives as the ideal way to avoid undergoing a full preventative procedure. However, these alternatives leave some patients at risk of incurring increased costs in the future should tests come back positive.
The fecal immunochemical test, or FIT, may be able to help patients avoid the struggles that come along with a traditional colonoscopy, but, according to Goshen Health, the FIT also has drawbacks: “FIT is considered a less effective cancer detection tool. It detects colon cancer once it’s already present, which may mean the disease is in a later stage. FIT detects precancerous polyps only 42.4% of the time, on average.”
Similarly, a virtual colonoscopy, or CT colonoscopy, is less invasive than its traditional counterpart but lacks the ability to remove identified polyps. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, a CT colonoscopy may also miss polyps smaller than 10mm, which may be identifiable via traditional colonoscopy. Should polyps be identified, a traditional colonoscopy may be required.
Finally, Jay Alamar, MD, of Blanchard Valley Health Systems, identified key areas of the Cologuard© test, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2014 for patients ages 50–85. Dr. Alamar explains how the Cologuard© test will not diagnose polyps, and should the test come back positive, a colonoscopy will still be required. He adds that like the FIT, Cologuard© only identifies roughly 42% of polyps, with the specificity of results decreasing as patient age increases.
While colonoscopy alternatives provide convenience and ease of use for patients, they fail to provide preventative and early removal of precancerous polyps. This may also cause an increased financial burden on patients whose tests return with a positive result, leading to no preventative treatment options covered by insurance. The traditional colonoscopy provides an all-in-one style of treatment and remains the “gold standard” for colorectal care.
