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Editorial
. 2009 Dec 21;15(47):5907-15.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.5907.

Colorectal cancer screening in Europe

Miroslav Zavoral, Stepan Suchanek, Filip Zavada, Ladislav Dusek, Jan Muzik, Bohumil Seifert, Premysl Fric
Editorial

Colorectal cancer screening in Europe

Miroslav Zavoral et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most frequent malignant disease in Europe. Every year, 412 000 people are diagnosed with this condition, and 207 000 patients die of it. In 2003, recommendations for screening programs were issued by the Council of the European Union (EU), and these currently serve as the basis for the preparation of European guidelines for CRC screening. The manner in which CRC screening is carried out varies significantly from country to country within the EU, both in terms of organization and the screening test chosen. A screening program of one sort or another has been implemented in 19 of 27 EU countries. The most frequently applied method is testing stool for occult bleeding (fecal occult blood test, FOBT). In recent years, a screening colonoscopy has been introduced, either as the only method (Poland) or the method of choice (Germany, Czech Republic).

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Europe; Fecal occult blood test; Screening colonoscopy; Screening programs.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Epidemiology of colorectal cancer in European countries. A: Incidence in international comparison-European countries; B: Mortality in international comparison-European countries. Adapted from: Ferlay J, Bray F, Pisani P, Parkin DM. GLOBOCAN 2002: Cancer incidence, mortality and prevalence worldwide. IARC Cancer Base No. 5 version 2.0. Lyon: IARC press, 2004. Available from: URL: http://www-dep.iarc.fr/, section CI5 I-VIII (Detailed). Last accessed on August 8, 2009.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Incidence trends of colorectal cancer in Europe. Thirty nine cancer registries in 1990-1996, 37 cancer registries in 1997, 96 cancer registries in 1998-2002. Adapted from: Parkin DM, Whelan SL, Ferlay J, Storm H. Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, Vol. I to VIII. IARC CancerBase No. 7, Lyon, 2005. Available from: URL: http://www-dep.iarc.fr/, section CI5 I-VIII (Detailed). Last accessed on August 8, 2009; Curado MP, Edwards B, Shin HR, Storm H, Ferlay J, Heanue M, Boyle P, editors. Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, Vol. IX. IARC Scientific Publications No. 160, Lyon: IARC, 2007. Available from: URL: http://www-dep.iarc.fr/ section CI5 IX. Last accessed on August 8, 2009.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mortality trends of colorectal cancer in Europe. As available in WHO database, countries with cancer registry (Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, Vol. IX). Adapted from: CancerMondial - WHO, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2008. Available from: URL: http://www-dep.iarc.fr/; World Health Organization (2006), mortality database http://www.who.int/whosis/whosis/, United Nations, World Population Prospects, the 2006 revision. Available from: URL: http://www-dep.iarc.fr/. Last accessed on August 8, 2009.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Ferlay J, Bray F, Pisani P, Parkin DM. GLOBOCAN 2002: Cancer incidence, mortality and prevalence worldwide. IARC Cancer Base No. 5 version 2.0. Lyon: IARC press; 2004. Available from: http://www-dep.iarc.fr/, section CI5 I-VIII (Detailed). Last accessed on....
    1. Parkin DM, Whelan SL, Ferlay J, Storm H. Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, Vol. I to VIII. IARC CancerBase No. 7, Lyon. Lyon: IARC press; 2005. Available from: http://www-dep.iarc.fr/, section CI5 I-VIII (Detailed). Last accessed on....

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