Sigmoidoscopic Screening in the 1990s

Results of a pilot study of endoscopic screening of first degree relatives of colorectal cancer patients in Italy.

“…'6 The procedure is simple enough to be performed by nurses, which reduces costs. '7 18 Besides the expense, disadvantages of endoscopic screening include patient discomfort and the risk of bowel perforation (about 1.4 per 10 000 sigmoidoscopies and 2 per 1000 colonoscopies). '920…”

Keeping Our Eye on the Ball: The American Society of Preventive Oncology in 2009

“…Screening by the flexible sigmoidoscope, which can be provided by primary care clinicians, only allows for examination of the distal section of the colon. Studies of flexible sigmoidoscopic screening also shown promising results (34,35). As other techniques, such as computed tomographic colonography, also known as "virtual colonoscopy", are developed and refined, these may take a place beside colonoscopy as a means of identifying adenomas (36).…”

Primary care physicians’ decisions to perform flexible sigmoidoscopy

“…5-9 However, current estimates suggest that there are too few gastroenterologists in the United States to provide all of the recommended screening flexible sigmoidoscopies and follow-up colonoscopies. 10 As a result, primary care physicians have been identified as a source of manpower to fill this gap.Unfortunately, many primary care physicians are not trained to perform flexible sigmoidoscopy or do not perform flexible sigmoidoscopy despite being trained. Previous studies suggest that only 23% to 67% of primary care physicians routinely perform flexible sigmoidoscopy as part of their practice.…”

“…[5][6][7][8][9] However, current estimates suggest that there are too few gastroenterologists in the United States to provide all of the recommended screening flexible sigmoidoscopies and follow-up colonoscopies. 10 As a result, primary care physicians have been identified as a source of manpower to fill this gap.…”