Flexible sigmoidoscopy a reliable diagnostic tool for colorectal cancer screening

Screening using flexible sigmoidoscopy significantly reduced the incidence of colorectal cancer and mortality, according to a recently published large prospective randomized study.

Overall, colorectal cancer mortality was reduced by 26% in patients assigned to sigmoidoscopy (2.9 vs 3.9 deaths per 10,000 person-years) in the study. A 50% reduction in death from distal cancer was responsible for the mortality benefit.

Sigmoidoscopy offers a first-line screening option for...