Nix later start for colonoscopy screens

OB/GYN News,  Feb 1, 2003  by Bruce Jancin

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SEATTLE -- Calls to begin screening colonoscopy in women a decade later than in men are off base, according to Dr. Philip S. Schoenfeld.

Current American College of Gastroenterology guidelines recommend that both women and men begin having screening colonoscopy every 10 years starting at age 50.

Critics claim that the ACG guidelines ought to be revised to recommend that screening colonoscopy begin at age 60 in women, since women develop colorectal polyps later in life than men. But this argument is undercut by a new study that indicates the prevalence of polyps among women in their 50s is similar to those in their 60s, Dr. Schoenfeld reported at the ACG's annual meeting.

He presented an analysis of a multicenter experience involving screening colonoscopy in 1,328 consecutive women. The prevalence of adenomatous polyps in women aged 50-59 was 18%. This wasn't statistically different than the 21% prevalence in women aged 60-69, said Dr. Schoenfeld, professor of medicine at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

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