Tamraz M, Al Ghossaini N, Temraz S. Optimization of colorectal cancer screening strategies: New insights. World J Gastroenterol 2024; 30(28): 3361-3366 [PMID: 39091719 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i28.3361]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Sally Temraz, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon. st29@aub.edu.lb
Research Domain of This Article
Oncology
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 28, 2024; 30(28): 3361-3366 Published online Jul 28, 2024. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i28.3361
Optimization of colorectal cancer screening strategies: New insights
Magie Tamraz, Najib Al Ghossaini, Sally Temraz
Magie Tamraz, Department of Nutrition and Public Health, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Jounieh 446, Lebanon
Najib Al Ghossaini, Department of Internal Medicine, Ain Wazein Medical Village, Chouf 1503, Lebanon
Sally Temraz, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
Author contributions: Tamraz M contributed to manuscript drafting and writing; Al Ghossaini N contributed to critical revision; Temraz S contributed to conception and design.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Sally Temraz, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon. st29@aub.edu.lb
Received: March 16, 2024 Revised: June 7, 2024 Accepted: June 28, 2024 Published online: July 28, 2024 Processing time: 129 Days and 23.9 Hours
Abstract
In this editorial, we discuss the article by Agatsuma et al. We concentrate specifically on the current routinely used screening tests recommended by society guidelines and delve into the significance of early diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) and its substantial impact on both incidence and mortality rates. Screening is highly recommended, and an early diagnosis stands out as the most crucial predictor of survival for CRC patients. Therefore, it is essential to identify and address the barriers hindering adherence to screening measures, as these barriers can vary among different populations. Furthermore, we focus on screening strategy optimization by selecting high-risk groups. Patients with comorbidities who regularly visit hospitals have been diagnosed at an early stage, showing no significant difference compared to patients undergoing regular screening. This finding highlights the importance of extending screening measures to include patients with comorbidities who do not routinely visit the hospital.
Core Tip: Despite the proven mortality benefits, adherence to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening guidelines remains low in many regions worldwide. Because nation-wide screening is not feasible due to limited financial and human resources, it is crucial to identify high-risk groups that ought to participate in screening measures. However, variation in each population is to be considered when implementing screening procedures, and barriers affecting adherence to screening guidelines should be addressed in each specific population. Finally, patients with comorbidities who regularly schedule visits to the hospital are diagnosed at an early stage similar to those who undergo periodic screening. This underscores the importance of encouraging patients with comorbidities who do not attend routine visits to undergo screening to reduce the burden of late-stage CRC diagnosis.
