Dec 17, 2020
Researchers stress the importance of screening by histology, age
Over the past 20 years, the incidence of rectal carcinoid tumors has increased dramatically in younger patients, substantially impacting the incidence of overall colorectal cancer (CRC), according to results from a study published in
Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers stress that independent assessment of histologic CRC subtypes may help better understand the factors driving the overall incidence of CRC and guide efforts to reduce risks in appropriate patients.
“Recent studies using SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) data demonstrated an increased incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) since the 1980s. Although this increase is not fully understood, potential contributors include dietary factors, alcohol consumption, and rising obesity rates. The increase in EOCRC incidence contributed to a 2018 American Cancer Society recommendation to start CRC screening at age 45 instead of 50 years in persons at average risk,” wrote these researchers, led by Eric M. Montminy, MD, of Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans.