Clinical Guildelines

1. Screening for Colorectal Cancer: A Guidance Statement From the American College of Physicians
2. ACP recommends that clinicians perform individualized assessment of risk for colorectal cancer in all adults.
3. ACP recommends that clinicians screen for colorectal cancer in average-risk adults starting at the age of 50 years and in high-risk adults starting at the age of 40 years or 10 years younger than the age at which the youngest affected relative was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
4. ACP recommends using a stool-based test, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or optical colonoscopy as a screening test in patients who are at average risk. ACP recommends using optical colonoscopy as a screening test in patients who are at high risk. Clinicians should select the test based on the benefits and harms of the screening test, availability of the screening test, and patient preferences.
5. ACP recommends that clinicians stop screening for colorectal cancer in adults over the age of 75 years or in adults with a life expectancy of less than 10 years.

• Related Information

• Figure 1. Screening for Colorectal Cancer (The American College of Physicians Guidance Statement)

• Figure 2. Colorectal Cancer (The American College of Physicians Best Practice Advice Screening)

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