INTRODUCTION
In the United States, colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks second to lung cancer as a cause of cancer mortality and is the third most commonly occurring cancer in both men and women. A study estimated that in 2020 approximately 147,950 new CRC cases would have been diagnosed and 53,200 individuals would have died of the disease (1). Between 2011 and 2015, the average annual incidence rates per 100,000 population were 45.9 and 34.6 for men and women respectively (2). CRC incidence and mortality rates have shown a steady decline of approximately 1.7% and 3.2%, respectively per year. The decline began in the mid 1980s and has accelerated since the early 2000s. It is believed to be driven by changes in risk factors, early detection of cancer through CRC screening, and removal of precancerous polyps with colonoscopy, in addition to advances in surgical and treatment approaches.
Most CRCs develop through the adenoma-carcinoma sequence, presenting opportunities to prevent cancer by removing its precursor lesions, in addition to identifying CRC in its earliest, curable stages (3). Approximately 70% of sporadic CRCs develop from adenomatous polyps and 25%–30% arise from sessile serrated lesions (SSLs) through the SSL-to-carcinoma pathway (4). CRC screening efforts are directed toward removal of adenomas, SSLs and detection of early-stage CRC.