Grading of distal colorectal adenomas as predictors for proximal colonic neoplasia and choice of endoscope in population screening: experience from the Norwegian Colorectal Cancer Prevention study (NORCCAP).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of easily measured clinical variables at flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) screening that might predict a proximal advanced neoplasm (PAN).

METHODS

We studied 1833 subjects with biopsy verified adenomas at FS who subsequently underwent full colonoscopy.

RESULTS

A total of 387 (21%) subjects had proximal colonic neoplasms (PCN) and 85 (5%) had PAN. In univariate comparison, the risk of PAN increased more than threefold in the presence of a distal adenoma measuring either > or =10 mm in diameter or containing villous components. Multiplicity of distal adenomas, severe dysplasia, or age > or =60 years increased the risk of PAN more than twofold. In the multivariate model, the presence of a distal adenoma > or =10 mm, villousness, and multiplicity maintained their significance as predictive variables for increased risk of proximal neoplasms, whereas sex and severe dysplasia lost their significance. By recommending colonoscopy only to individuals with multiple (>1) adenomas or any high risk adenoma at FS, we would have reduced the number of colonoscopies by 1209 (66%) but would have missed 32 (38%) participants with PAN and 217 (56%) with PCN. By using a 60 cm endoscope instead of an ordinary colonoscope at FS, nine (2%) participants with advanced neoplasms, including three patients with cancer, would have been missed.

CONCLUSION

The present study supports the concept of defining "any adenoma" as a positive FS, qualifying for colonoscopy. We recommend the use of an ordinary colonoscope instead of a 60 cm sigmoidoscope for FS screening examinations.