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Review
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Korean J Med. 2006;71(1):259-259.
- The usefulness of colonoscopy as a screening test for asymptomatic adults
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., , , , , ,
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- The usefulness of colonoscopy as a screening test for asymptomatic adults
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, , , , , ,
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1Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul; 2Department of Life Science, Postech Biotech Center, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Korea
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- Abstract
- Background : Colonic polyp is the most common lesion encountered during screening colonoscopy, and the prevalence of colonic
adenomatous polyp increases with age. Aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and location of colonic
adenomatous polyps in asymptomatic adults. Methods : From January 2003 to September 2005, a total of 4,629 asymptomatic
adults underwent colonscopic screening for the first time as a part of a health evaluation program. We analyzed the completed
questionnaires, and the colonoscopic and pathologic findings. Results : Complete colonic evaluation was possible in 4,491
subjects, and 804 (17.9%) had adenomatous polyps, including 153 subjects (3.4%) with advanced polyps. There was a trend
toward an increased prevalence of adenomatous polyps with age. The subjects were divided according to the location of polyps
into three groups: distal, proximal, and combined distal and proximal. Among the subjects with polyps, 72.1% of the subjects
had distal polyps and the relative risk for proximal polyp, according to the distal findings, was 5.3 (95% CI : 4.5-6.3) for
adenomatous polyp, 5.1 (95% CI 3.6-7.0) for advanced adenoma as compared to the finding of no adenomatous polyp. There were
no polyps at the distal colon in 27.9% of the 804 subjects. Conclusions : Though distal polyps are associated with the proximal
polyps, 27.9% of the asymptomatic adults with proximal polyps do not have any distal polyps. For those without any
contraindication to the procedure, colonoscopy performed by experienced colonoscopists as a screening test is feasible for
detecting those patients with colorectal polyps. Key words: Colonoscopy, Colorectal polyp, Adenoma, Colorectal cancer,
Screening.
Keywords :
