Performing a colonoscopy after a positive fecal immunochemical test can improve patient outcomes, according to a study published in the journal Gut.
A fecal immunochemical test-based colorectal cancer screening program in Italy invited people ages 50 to 69 with a positive test and provided them with a diagnostic colonoscopy. The study, published March 31, compared the 10-year cumulative colorectal cancer incidence and mortality among those with positive fecal immunochemical tests who completed a diagnostic colonoscopy within the program and those who did not. The study used the Kaplan-Meier estimator and Cox-Aalen models.