Effectiveness of colonoscopy for upper colon questioned by study
02.10.2008 20:01
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
The risk of getting cancer in the upper colon is higher than in the lower colon following a negative colonoscopy, a new Ontario study suggests. The findings raise questions about the effectiveness of a colonoscopy, says Dr. Linda Rabeneck, the lead investigator on the study by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. It shows there is "something different' about cancers in the upper or right colon than the lower colon, she said in a news release Thursday. The study looked at the records of 110,402 people between the ages of 50 and 80 who had a negative colonoscopy in the province between 1992 and 1997. In 14 years of followup, the risk of colorectal cancer in the lower colon was reduced when patients were compared with the general population who hadn't had a colonoscopy. A reduction in the incidence of colon cancer in the upper colon was only seen in about half of the 14 followup years, and mainly in the second seven-year period. The results suggest that a colonoscopy may not be equally effective for the detection and removal of abnormalities in the lower and upper colon, Rabeneck said. Although the colonoscopy is not a perfect test, it's the only procedure that can provide a view of the entire colon and allow for the biopsy and removal of abnormalities such as polyps or cancers, Rabeneck said. More research is needed to determine whether different outcomes result from an issue of colonoscopy quality or differences in tumour biology, she said. The research was published in the October issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. With files from the Canadian PressStory Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKHealth HeadlinesHealth officials seek bus passengers exposed to TBOntario public health officials are looking for 27 people who could have contracted tuberculosis during a Greyhound bus trip to Windsor, Ont., on Aug. 31.Better mental-health services needed for youth, group saysThe next federal government needs to do more to help young people with mental-health problems, the president of the Canadian Psychological Association says.Kids to face, embrace elements all day long at outdoor preschoolChildren will play outside all day, rain or shine, in warm or wintry weather at Canada's first outdoor preschool.Effectiveness of colonoscopy for upper colon questioned by studyThe risk of getting cancer in the upper colon is higher than in the lower colon following a negative colonoscopy, a new Ontario study suggests. Taiwan removes Nestl products from shelvesNestl milk powder products have been removed from shelves in Taiwan after minor doses of melamine were found in the powders that were produced in northeastern China, says Taiwan's health minister. Health FeaturesHEALTHMultiple sclerosisHigh rates in Canada and around the worldIN DEPTHFood additivesPreservation with a risk?HEALTHPain pillsPros and cons of three popular pain relieversVIEWPOINTHeather MallickFat and food: what's the real crisis?MEDICAL RESEARCHBrain banksCrucial for research, clamouring for donorsCHILD PSYCHOLOGYPoliticians' behaviourHow do we explain it to our kids?People who read this also read …
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