Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1559236
Survival in colorectal cancer patients diagnosed by screening colonoscopy
Background: In Germany, screening colonoscopy was first established in 2002 as part of the national cancer screening program. Our objective was to evaluate whether colorectal cancer (CRC) survival differs when CRC is diagnosed by screening colonoscopy (S-CRC) vs. diagnostic colonoscopy (D-CRC).
Methods: In this long-term, retrospective, multicenter, observational study of 10 private gastroenterology practices in Germany we investigated survival in 60 patients diagnosed with CRC during screening colonoscopy and 252 patients during diagnostic colonoscopy in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Our main outcome measure was survival of patients up to December 2013.
Results: Mean follow-up time was 81.0 ± 40.1 months. UICC stages I and II (Union Internationale Contre le Cancer) were more often found in S-CRC (81.6%) compared to D-CRC (59.9%; p < 0.002). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed significantly reduced overall survival for patients with D-CRC (mean: 86.9 months ± 3.0 (SD); 95% confidence interval: 81.0 – 92.8) compared to S-CRC (mean 107.1 months ± 4.9 (SD); 95% confidence interval: 97.4 – 116.9; p =.003). When non-CRC-related deaths were excluded, survival was still shorter for D-CRC patients (mean: 89.4 months ± 3.0 (SD); 95% confidence interval: 83.5 – 95.4) compared to S-CRC (mean: 109.6 months ± 4.7; 95% confidence interval: 100.2 – 119.0; p = 0.004).
Discussion: In this long-term retrospective study, CRC patients diagnosed during screening colonoscopy lived significantly longer when compared to CRC patients diagnosed during diagnostic colonoscopy.


