Douglas K. Rex, MD, a professor Indiana University School of Medicine, said colonoscopy may eventually be supplanted by another method as the dominant form of colon cancer screening, according to a General Surgery News report.
Speaking before the 2011 Digestive Disease Week meeting, Dr. Rex said any new technology would have to be better at adenoma detection, but some endoscopists believe risk stratification currently used in colonoscopy is insufficient. In addition, some studies show colonoscopy does not provide adequate protection against right-sided lesions.
However, turning to alternative methods, Dr. Rex said flexible sigmoidoscopy has '"no chance with the American public of gaining widespread use," although fecal immunochemical testing is easier than guaiac-based tests and adherence is better. He added that computed tomographic colonography could improve adherence.
He concluded that "colonoscopy will not go away," though the quality of screenings could be improved further.
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