Journal of the American College of Radiology
Volume 7, Issue 9 , Pages 670-678, September 2010

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® on Colorectal Cancer Screening

  • Judy Yee, MD

      Affiliations

    • University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author and reprints: Judy Yee, MD, University of California, San Francisco/VA Medical Center, 4150 Clement Street, (114), San Francisco, CA 94121
    • ,
  • Max Paul Rosen, MD, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
    • ,
  • Michael A. Blake, MB, BCh

      Affiliations

    • Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
    • ,
  • Mark E. Baker, MD

      Affiliations

    • Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
    • ,
  • Brooks D. Cash, MD

      Affiliations

    • National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
    • American Gastroenterological Association, Bethesda, Maryland
    • ,
  • Jeff L. Fidler, MD

      Affiliations

    • Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
    • ,
  • Thomas H. Grant, DO

      Affiliations

    • Northwestern Medical Faculty, Chicago, Illinois
    • ,
  • Frederick L. Greene, MD

      Affiliations

    • Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
    • American College of Surgeons, Chicago, Illinois
    • ,
  • Bronwyn Jones, MD

      Affiliations

    • Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
    • ,
  • Douglas S. Katz, MD

      Affiliations

    • Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, New York
    • ,
  • Tasneem Lalani, MD

      Affiliations

    • Inland Imaging Associates, Seattle, Washington
    • University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
    • ,
  • Frank H. Miller, MD

      Affiliations

    • Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine/NMH, Chicago, Illinois
    • ,
  • William C. Small, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
    • ,
  • Gary S. Sudakoff, MD

      Affiliations

    • Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    • ,
  • David M. Warshauer, MD

      Affiliations

    • University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Colorectal cancer remains one of the most common causes of cancer death in this country. This malignancy is ideally suited for screening because the detection and removal of the precursor adenomatous polyp can prevent most colorectal cancers from ever forming. The choice of a test for screening involves consideration of various individual parameters, including patient age and the presence of risk factors for the development of colorectal cancer. Computed tomographic colonography (CTC) has emerged as the leading imaging technique for colorectal cancer screening in average-risk individuals on the basis of the evidence presented in this paper. The double-contrast barium enema is an alternative imaging test that is appropriate particularly when CTC is not available. In 2008, the American Cancer Society guideline for colorectal cancer screening was revised jointly with the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer and the ACR to include CTC every 5 years as an option for average-risk individuals. Computed tomographic colonography is also the preferred test for colon evaluation after an incomplete colonoscopy. Imaging tests including CTC and the double-contrast barium enema are usually not indicated for colorectal cancer screening in high-risk patients with polyposis syndromes or inflammatory bowel disease. This paper presents the new colorectal cancer imaging test ratings and is the result of evidence-based consensus by the ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Expert Panel on Gastrointestinal Imaging.

Key Words: Colorectal cancer, adenoma, screening, CT colonography, barium enema, Appropriateness Criteria®

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 30.00 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

 The ACR seeks and encourages collaboration with other organizations on the development of the ACR Appropriateness Criteria® through society representation on expert panels. Participation by representatives from collaborating societies on the expert panel does not necessarily imply society endorsement of the final document.

PII: S1546-1440(10)00259-0

doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2010.05.005

Journal of the American College of Radiology
Volume 7, Issue 9 , Pages 670-678, September 2010

Article Tools