Comparing the European and U.S. Approaches for Colorectal Cancer Screening

摘要

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening has undergone a tremendous transformation over the past few decades. Once limited to digital rectal exams and rigid sigmoidoscopy, we now have a wide assortment of screening tests at our disposal. The development of these new tests has outpaced our ability to study their effectiveness. Moreover, there is tremendous variation in screening practices around the world and across different health care delivery systems within individual countries. When comparing CRC screening practices in the United States and Europe, variation is seen in several areas, including which tests are available and recommended, when programmatic versus spontaneous screening takes place, and how quality assurance measures are implemented within screening programs.