Screening ages and frequencies
Adults aged 50-69: screening vs. no screening
Issued on: June 2023
The ECICC working group is currently working on the development of recommendations for colorectal cancer screening covering other age-ranges and different types of tests that may be used. These recommendations will be published on this website once finalised.
Healthcare question
Should screening vs. no screening be used for colorectal cancer in asymptomatic adults aged 50-69 with an average risk of colorectal cancer?
Recommendation
For asymptomatic adults aged 50-69 with an average risk of colorectal cancer, the ECICC working group (WG) recommends screening for colorectal cancer in the context of an organised population-based screening programme.
Recommendation strength
| Strong recommendation |
| Moderate certainty of the evidence |
Justification
The ECICC working group agreed on this recommendation by consensus.
The WG judged that the balance between desirable and undesirable effects favours screening, that there is no important uncertainty or variability in how much people value the main outcomes and that the intervention is probably cost-effective and acceptable. These judgments applied to all screening tests considered (Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy), although the balance between desirable and undesirable effects, cost/effectiveness, and acceptability considerations may vary according to the different strategy. The WG also considered that organised screening will probably increase equity, and it is feasible to implement.
This recommendation is for screening in general. Specific considerations should be made depending on the screening test used and their implications.
Supporting material