True Benefit of Screening Colonoscopy for CRC Underestimated in NordICC (Medscape)

Delays in cancer registry reporting may have skewed the findings of the NordICC trial, which evaluated the long-term impact of screening colonoscopies. The trial, involving over 85,000 adults, excluded 221 participants with pre-existing colorectal cancer (CRC) that hadn’t yet appeared in registries—raising questions about the accuracy of reported outcomes. Researchers estimate that 2-3 year delays may have masked the true effectiveness of colonoscopies, showing a lower impact on CRC prevention than reality. If registration had been timely, risk reductions and outcomes could have been significantly better, suggesting a need for deeper investigation. What else might this delay reveal about the real power of colonoscopies?