Colorectal cancer screening and surveillance: Past, present and future

Abstract

SUMMARY
In this communication, the available colon cancer screening
methods are reviewed and the recommendations for both
average a high risk groups are discussed. But before we
proceed with the specifics of both screening and surveillance,
it is imperative that we give the definition of these
terms that will prove instrumental in the throrough understanding
of this paper. Screening involves the use of a simple
test to identify average-risk persons who have a high
probability of the disease. Surveillance, on the other hand,
is the periodic use of a definitive diagnostic test in persons
with special risk factors for the disease.