Thomas F. Imperiale, MD, a professor of gastroenterology and hepatology at the Indiana School of Medicine and a research scientist at the Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research wrote an editorial published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology about the potential that "precision surveillance" techniques in colonoscopy have to improve outcomes for patients.
Here are the key details to know:
1. The editorial, a response to a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology titled "Risk of metachronous advanced neoplasia in patients with multiple diminutive adenomas," covers the results of the study, in which the researchers argued that patient factors other than having one or more adenomas should be considered when performing surveillance colonoscopy. Specifically, the researchers suggested expanding the low risk subgroup to include patients with up to four diminutive tubular adenomas.
2. Dr. Imperiale said surveillance in the future may be determined by patient factors, endoscopic findings and quality metrics of endoscopists such as adenoma detection rate.
3. Dr. Imperiale said precision surveillance, or taking additional patient factors into consideration, will help improve the balance between a patient's individual risk with the efficiency and effectiveness of screening colonoscopy.