Efficient Implementation of TCS Screening (Third Report)

Abstract

We have investigated efficient procedures for conducting TCS screening. We have already published the first and second reports on this subject. For this third report, however, this issue was reexamined by extending the study period to increase the number of TCS receivers and TCS detected invasive cancers and by introducing the new concept of the rate of invasive cancer detection by virtual second TCS. The efficient procedure for conducting TCS screening was found to be as follows: TCS is actively performed in patients aged 30 or older who have never received TCS and present with symptoms suspicious for colorectal cancer; a second TCS is performed 2 years later in patients in whom mucosal cancer or adenoma was detected by the initial one; a second TCS is performed 4 years later in patients in whom no neoplastic lesion was detected by the initial one; and a third one is not performed for an extended period of time. However, this procedure does not apply to patients in whom invasive cancer was detected, patients in whom observation by TCS was insufficient, or patients who developed new symptoms suspicious for colorectal cancer after examination by TCS.