US guidelines for colorectal cancer screening
| American Cancer Society23 | US Preventive Services Task Force24 | National Comprehensive Cancer Network12 |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning at age 50, men and women should use one of the screening tests below: Tests that find polyps and cancer (preferred): Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years Colonoscopy every 10 years Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years Computed tomographic colonography every 5 years Tests that find cancer only: Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test every year Fecal immunochemical test every year Stool DNA test every 3 years | Screen for colorectal cancer using fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy in adults beginning at age 50 and continuing until age 75. The risks and benefits of these screening methods vary. The evidence is insufficient to assess the benefits and harms of computed tomographic colonography and fecal DNA testing as screening modalities for colorectal cancer. | Patients age 50 and older should be screened for colorectal cancer with colonoscopy, high-sensitivity guaiac- based or immunochemical testing, or flexible sigmoidoscopy, plus or minus interval stool-based testing at year 3. |