A new study reveals that colonoscopy is an effective method of detecting colorectal cancer in elderly patients who had not been previously screened, according to an article on new research presented at Digestive Disease Week.
The research was conducted by Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Mich. The researchers, led by Therese G. Kerwel, MD, research fellow at Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Spectrum Health, found that elderly patients who had not previously received a colonoscopy had a cancer rate of 9.4 percent, which is much higher than those who previously received the procedure.
The patients with identified colorectal cancer underwent curative surgery.
"It is worthwhile to offer a screening colonoscopy for elderly patients in good health and functional status who have never previously undergone the test," Dr Kerwel said, in the article. She further advised that rather than stopping the screening for elderly patients, providers should instead consider reducing the number of surveillance exams for this population.
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