Screening colonoscopy in family members of patients with colorectal cancer: A population-based study in Iran

Background

Relative risk of developing cancer among First degree relatives (FDRs) of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is two- to three folds greater than the general population. Screening colonoscopy in Wetern countries contributes to more than 50% reduction in mortality from CRC in FDRs of patients with CRC. We previously showed that family history of CRC was common among CRCs in Iran, particularly if the proband was young. The current study presents clinical findings from a screening colonoscopy program in the FDRs of patients with CRC in Tehran.

Methods

This is an ongoing population-level screenings study which targets the FDRs of patients with CRC registered in cancer registry system of the Deputy of health in the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. We included the data of the FDRs who underwent a colonoscopy in screening center of the Digestive Disease Research Institute. Data collected via face-to-face interviews, and we used Stata/MP software, version 12 for analyses.

Results

Overall 472 FDRs with age mean of 47.5 years performed a screening colonoscopy, of which 52.5% were female. About 411 (87.1%) had good or excellent bowel prep, and ceacal reach was reported in 96.0% (n = 453) of the procedures. The detection rate of polyps was 31.1% (n = 147). Adenomatous polyps, and advanced-adenomas were present in 22.5% (106), and 12.1% (n = 57) of the participants, respectively. There were 9 patients in this study who were diagnosed with CRC (1.9%), of which 7 cases were completely asymptomatic.

Conclusions

Our study confirms that FDRs of CRCs in Iran are high risk for CRC. The relatively high number of asymptomatic cancer cases among family members of CRC patients calls for a nationwide screening program among FDRs of CRCs in Iran.

Clinical trial identification

Legal entity responsible for the study

Digestive Diseases Research Institute,Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Funding

Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.