The findings of a randomized phase III clinical trial reveal the long-term benefits of screening, involving a single flexible sigmoidoscopy examination. In a cohort of 170,034 individuals, sigmoidoscopy was found to confer a 26% reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), in addition to a 30% reduction in the risk of CRC-related mortality at a median follow-up duration of 17.1 years. These findings demonstrate the prolonged long-term benefits of a one-off sigmoidoscopy examination.
References
Atkin, W. et al. Long term effects of once-only flexible sigmoidoscopy screening after 17 years of follow-up: the UK Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Screening randomised controlled trial. Lancet http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30396-3 (2017)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sidaway, P. Screening provides long-term benefits. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 14, 262 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2017.34
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2017.34
