Does a Colonoscopy Help Detect Cancer?

Don’t cancel your colonoscopy after new research indicates it might not be important; Hartford HealthCare experts warn that conclusion is dangerously flawed.

Norwegian research in the New England Journal of Medicine asserts colonoscopy, an internal look at the large intestine seen as the key tool against colon cancer, was less effective than initially thought.

Flawed research

“The European study had many flaws, including the fact that only 42% of those offered a colonoscopy actually received one,” noted Jeffry Nestler, MD, chief of gastroenterology at Hartford Hospital.

Anant Agarwalla, MD, another Hartford HealthCare gastroenterologist, agreed, saying, “This study shows that colonoscopies don’t do anything if you don’t get them.”

Of the 42% of study participants who got a colonoscopy, the procedure reduced the risk of colon cancer by 31% and the risk of dying by colon cancer by half.

In addition, Dr. Agarwalla said flaws included:

• Sidestepping some of the unique features of the American population, especially in communities of color where rates of colorectal cancer and related deaths are higher
• Low quality ratings for the gastroenterologists following study participants. The average rating was about 25%, while the average in American gastroenterologists is about 40%
• Only following the patients for 10 years, when the advantage of colonoscopy is helping to prevent cancer years later

“This study reemphasized the importance of colonoscopy as an effective test, and that not getting one is not going to help prevent colon cancer,” Dr. Agarwalla said.

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