Colorectal cancer surveillance after age 65 years

Background It would be valuable to determine whether or not asymptomatic patients 60 to 65 years of age with normal colonoscopies should continue to undergo serial colorectal cancer surveillance examinations. Methods Data were obtained from retrospective review of our existing database. Additional data were obtained from patients’ medical records, office charts, and pathology reports. In situ endoscopic measurements were performed using a biopsy forceps that was 7 mm when fully extended. Results Over the past 25 years, 699 asymptomatic patients between 60 and 65 years of age underwent colonoscopies which revealed no pathology. As part of their routine continuing colorectal surveillance and without any prior abnormal endoscopic findings, 56 of these patients underwent a total of 123 colonoscopies after age 65. Thirty-seven patients (66%) had surveillance colonoscopies that continued to be normal while 13 patients (23%) were diagnosed with colorectal adenomas and 6 patients (11%) were found to have hyperplastic polyps. No cancers were discovered. Conclusions Patients over the age of 65 should continue to undergo colorectal surveillance even if prior examinations have been negative.