Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Jan 5;23(1):17.
doi: 10.1186/s12885-022-10418-5.

Should we screen for colorectal cancer in people aged 75 and over? A systematic review - collaborative work of the French geriatric oncology society (SOFOG) and the French federation of digestive oncology (FFCD)

Lydia Guittet  1 , Valérie Quipourt  2 , Thomas Aparicio  3 , Elisabeth Carola  4 , Jean-François Seitz  5 , Elena Paillaud  6 , Astrid Lievre  7 , Rabia Boulahssass  8 , Carole Vitellius  9   10 , Leila Bengrine  11 , Florence Canoui-Poitrine  12 , Sylvain Manfredi  13
Affiliations

Should we screen for colorectal cancer in people aged 75 and over? A systematic review - collaborative work of the French geriatric oncology society (SOFOG) and the French federation of digestive oncology (FFCD)

Lydia Guittet et al. BMC Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: We have done a systematic literature review about CRC Screening over 75 years old in order to update knowledge and make recommendations.

Methods: PUBMED database was searched in October 2021 for articles published on CRC screening in the elderly, and generated 249 articles. Further searches were made to find articles on the acceptability, efficacy, and harms of screening in this population, together with the state of international guidelines.

Results: Most benefit-risk data on CRC screening in the over 75 s derived from simulation studies. Most guidelines recommend stopping cancer screening at the age of 75. In private health systems, extension of screening up to 80-85 years is, based on the life expectancy and the history of screening. Screening remains effective in populations without comorbidity given their better life-expectancy. Serious adverse events of colonoscopy increase with age and can outweigh the benefit of screening. The great majority of reviews concluded that screening between 75 and 85 years must be decided case by case.

Conclusion: The current literature does not allow Evidence-Based Medicine propositions for mass screening above 75 years old. As some subjects over 75 years may benefit from CRC screening, we discussed ways to introduce CRC screening in France in the 75-80 age group. IRB: An institutional review board composed of members of the 2 learned societies (SOFOG and FFCD) defined the issues of interest, followed the evolution of the work and reviewed and validated the report.

Keywords: Acceptability; Cost effectiveness; Harms; Simulation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

None for all authors.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Screening and natural history of colorectal adenoma and cancer
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Ferlay J, Colombet M, Soerjomataram I, et al. Cancer Incidence and Mortality Patterns in Europe: Estimates for 40 Countries and 25 Major Cancers in 2018. Eur J Cancer. 2018;103:356–387. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2018.07.005. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ferlay J, Steliarova-Foucher E, Lortet-Tieulent J, et al. Cancer Incidence and Mortality Patterns in Europe: Estimates for 40 Countries in 2012. Eur J Cancer Oxf Engl 1990. 2013;49(6):1374–1403. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2012.12.027. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Arnold M, Sierra MS, Laversanne M, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A, Bray F. Global patterns and trends in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. Gut. 2017;66(4):683–691. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2015-310912. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Defossez G, Le Guyader§Peyrou S, Uhry Z. et al. Estimations Nationales de l’incidence et de La Mortalité Par Cancer En France Métropolitaine Entre 1990 et 2018. Volume 1 – Tumeurs Solides; Santé Publique France: Saint-Maurice, France, 2019; p 372.
    1. Cottet V, Jooste V, Bouvier A-M, Michiels C, Faivre J, Bonithon-Kopp C. Time Trends in First-Diagnosis Rates of Colorectal Adenomas: A 24-Year Population-Based Study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2008;27(10):950–959. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2008.03675.x. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types