Abstract

In this issue of the Southern Medical Journal, Iqbal and colleagues present an extensive review of the burgeoning role of computed tomography colonography (CTC) for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening.¹ The evidence is convincing that screening for CRC with fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy, optical colonoscopy, and CTC can detect early-stage cancer and precancerous adenomatous polyps. Annual reports from the American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention²demonstrate encouraging trends regarding CRC screening with overall decreasing mortality rates related to CRC. Despite the gains, CRC remains the third most common cause of new cancers and the third leading cause of cancer death. An estimated 22 million eligible individuals still do not undergo CRC screening. Therein lies our challenge and opportunity.