LSE Health, London School of Economics, London, UK.
Eur J Health Econ. 2010 Jan;10 Suppl 1:S41-9. doi: 10.1007/s10198-009-0191-0.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent and deadly cancers in Italy. Its burden is expected to remain significant in the coming years, although it is mostly a preventable disease. Prevention and screening programmes will play an important role in the fight against CRC. A national formal screening programme was introduced in the 2003-2005 and 2005-2007 national health programmes, leaving the planning and implementation, respectively, to each region and local health unit. In 2007, screening programmes covered 46.6% of the eligible population, with a higher coverage in the North (71.6%) and in the Centre (52.1%) than in the South (7%). The majority of programmes used the guaiac faecal occult blood test (FOBT) as first-line test. Only few programmes used the flexible sigmoidoscopy, or a combination of both tests. The quality and efficacy of the screening programmes are evaluated using ad hoc indicators with acceptable and desirable targets. In Italy, there are formal guidelines for population-based and opportunistic screening, diagnosis, surgery, adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatments and surveillance, differentiating colon cancer from rectal cancer and advanced CRC. Guidelines are updated yearly. Overall, Italy is well positioned in the fight against CRC. Although many regions lag behind in the uptake of screening programmes, they are in the process of introducing them.
结直肠癌（CRC）是意大利最常见和最致命的癌症之一。尽管它主要是一种可预防的疾病，但预计在未来几年，其负担仍将很严重。预防和筛查计划将在对抗 CRC 方面发挥重要作用。全国性的正式筛查计划于 2003-2005 年和 2005-2007 年国家卫生计划中推出，分别由各地区和当地卫生部门负责规划和实施。2007 年，筛查计划覆盖了 46.6%的合格人群，北方（71.6%）和中部（52.1%）的覆盖率高于南方（7%）。大多数计划使用愈创木脂粪便潜血试验（FOBT）作为一线检测。只有少数计划使用柔性乙状结肠镜检查，或两种检测方法的结合。筛查计划的质量和效果使用具有可接受和理想目标的特定指标进行评估。在意大利，有针对人群筛查和机会性筛查、诊断、手术、辅助和新辅助治疗以及监测的正式指南，将结肠癌与直肠癌和晚期 CRC 区分开来。指南每年更新一次。总体而言，意大利在对抗 CRC 方面处于有利地位。尽管许多地区在筛查计划的普及方面落后，但它们正在引入这些计划。
