ASGE guideline: the role of endoscopy in the diagnosis, staging, and management of colorectal cancer

This is one of a series of statements discussing the utilization of GI endoscopy in common. clinical situations. The Standards of Practice Committee of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy prepared this text. In preparing this guideline, a MEDLINE literature search was performed, and additional references were obtained from the bibliographies of the identified articles and from recommendations of expert consultants. When little or no data exist from well-designed prospective trials, emphasis is given. to results from large series and reports from recognized experts. Guidelines,for appropriate utilization of endoscopy are based on a critical review of the available data and expert consensus. Further controlled clinical studies are needed to clarify aspects of this statement, and revision may be necessary as new data appear. Clinical consideration may justify a course of action. at variance to these recommendations. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 4th most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States.(1) It has been estimated that in 2003 approximately 147,500 cases of CRC were diagnosed and over 57,000 men and women died from this malignancy l During the past decade, great emphasis has been placed on the use of colonoscopy for the early detection and the removal of adenomatous polyps to reduce the incidence and the mortality of CRC. Once CRC has developed, colonoscopy also has an important role in the diagnosis and subsequent disease management. This guideline represents a summary of recommendations on the role of endoscopy in the diagnosis, the staging, and the treatment of CRC. Recommendations for CRC screening and surveillance are discussed in a previous document by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.(2)