CC BY 4.0 · Endoscopy 2024; 56(05): 364-372
DOI: 10.1055/a-2230-5563
Original article

Post-colonoscopy colorectal cancers in a national fecal immunochemical test-based colorectal cancer screening program

Pieter H. A. Wisse
1   Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands (Ringgold ID: RIN6993)
,
Sybrand Y. de Boer
2   Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Bevolkingsonderzoek Nederland, Rotterdam, Netherlands
,
Marco Oudkerk Pool
2   Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Bevolkingsonderzoek Nederland, Rotterdam, Netherlands
,
Jochim S Terhaar sive Droste
2   Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Bevolkingsonderzoek Nederland, Rotterdam, Netherlands
,
Claudia Verveer
2   Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Bevolkingsonderzoek Nederland, Rotterdam, Netherlands
,
Gerrit A. Meijer
3   Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands (Ringgold ID: RIN1228)
,
4   Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdam UMC Location AMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands (Ringgold ID: RIN26066)
,
1   Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands (Ringgold ID: RIN6993)
› Author Affiliations


Abstract

Background Post-colonoscopy colorectal cancers (PCCRCs) decrease the effect of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs. To enable PCCRC incidence reduction in the long-term, we classified PCCRCs diagnosed after colonoscopies performed in a fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based screening program.

Methods PCCRCs diagnosed after colonoscopies performed between 2014–2016 for a positive FIT in the Dutch CRC screening program were included. PCCRCs were categorized according to the World Endoscopy Organization consensus statement into (a) interval PCCRC (diagnosed before the recommended surveillance); (b) non-interval type A (diagnosed at the recommended surveillance interval); (c) non-interval type B (diagnosed after the recommended surveillance interval); or (d) non-interval type C (diagnosed after the intended recommended surveillance interval, with surveillance not implemented owing to co-morbidity). The most probable etiology was determined by root-cause analysis. Tumor stage distributions were compared between categories.

Results 116362 colonoscopies were performed after a positive FIT with 9978 screen-detected CRCs. During follow-up, 432 PCCRCs were diagnosed. The 3-year PCCRC rate was 2.7%. PCCRCs were categorized as interval (53.5%), non-interval type A (14.6%), non-interval type B (30.6%), and non-interval type C (1.4%). The most common etiology for interval PCCRCs was possible missed lesion with adequate examination (73.6%); they were more often diagnosed at an advanced stage (stage III/IV; 53.2%) compared with non-interval type A (15.9%; P<0.001) and non-interval type B (40.9%; P=0.03) PCCRCs.

Conclusions The 3-year PCCRC rate was low in this FIT-based CRC screening program. Approximately half of PCCRCs were interval PCCRCs. These were mostly caused by missed lesions and were diagnosed at a more advanced stage. This emphasizes the importance of high quality colonoscopy with optimal polyp detection.

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 12 June 2023

Accepted after revision: 15 December 2023

Accepted Manuscript online:
15 December 2023

Article published online:
06 February 2024

© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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