Is Screening Colonoscopy Effective in Preventing Cancer? Some Answers, More Questions

Understanding colonoscopy's effectiveness in colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention remains a critically important question to patients, endoscopists, and policy makers. Colonoscopy screening to prevent CRC is widely recommended by high profile groups providing recommendations, and there is good evidence that the message is being heeded. Use of lower endoscopy for screening increased from 45% of the US population in 2002 to 56% in 2006. Given this increase in utilization, just how much benefit are we getting?