Gastroenterology

Advances in Gastroenterology

Flexible sigmoidoscopy is one of several screening modalities recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. However, sigmoidoscopy is less effective in detecting lesions at the right side of the colon than the left side, and right-sided lesions are more common in older women. A study that pooled results from three randomized trials comparing screening by sigmoidoscopy with no screening found that the incidence of CRC at 10 to 12 years was decreased in men but in women, only in those younger than 60 years. Current screening recommendations do not indicate gender-based preferences for screening options.