The Minnesota Colorectal Cancer Consortium recommends that each medical clinic establish a policy for colorectal carcinoma (CRC) screening. This will help to standardize care relative to CRC screening and provide clinical practice guidelines for clinicians to follow. With this goal in mind, BMC has elected to follow the recommendations of the American Gastroenterological Association and the U.S. Multisociety Task Force on Colorectal Cancer. Clinicians are encouraged to review these recommendations with their patients and screen them as appropriate.
PREFERRED STRATEGY:
Average Risk Patient
Colonoscopy beginning at age 50 years.
Repeat colonoscopy every 10 years.
Increased Risk Patient
Patient with one first degree relative with CRC or adenomatous polyps diagnosed at age <60 years or two or more first degree relatives regardless of age.
Colonoscopy beginning at age 40 years or 10 years younger than the earliest diagnosis in the family, whichever comes first.
Repeat colonoscopy every 5 years.
Patient with one first degree relative with CRC or adenomatous polyps at age 60 years or older or 2 or more second degree relatives of any age.
Colonoscopy beginning at age 40 years.
Repeat colonoscopy every 10 years.
ALTERNATIVE STRATEGY:
Average Risk Patient
Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years with annual stool hemoccults beginning at age 50 years.
Increased Risk Patient
No alternative strategy
IN THE ADULT PATIENT WITH BRIGHT RED HEMATOCHEZIA, NO MATTER HOW TRIVIAL AND REGARDLESS OF THE PATIENT'S AGE OR FAMILY HISTORY, THE AVAILABLE LITERATURE SUPPORTS FULL COLONOSCOPY.
