In a clinical study conducted in Italy, researchers followed up on the results of the Italian Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Screening Trial over the long term. The clinical trial started in 1995 and involved screening patients with a single flexible sigmoidoscopy. These patients were followed up to find out if they developed colon cancer and whether any of them died because of it.
Colorectal cancer is a disease in which cells in the colon or rectum grow out of control. Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer worldwide, and its incidence is increasing, particularly in developed countries. Screening for colon cancer is recommended for individuals with a family history of colon cancer and old people, as early detection can improve the chances of successful treatment.
Similar to a colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic test used to check the sigmoid colon, which is the lower part of your colon or large intestine. It involves introducing a camera into the colon via your anus and looking at the colonic walls from the inside. Additionally, any suspicious lesions can be biopsied for further workup. Sigmoidoscopy has been used as a screening tool for people at risk of developing colon cancer.
A recent clinical study has looked at the long-term effectiveness of sigmoidoscopy in reducing colon cancer and related death.
The Italian Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Screening Trial involved over 34,272 participants aged between 55 and 64 years. Half of the participants received a sigmoidoscopy screening test, while the other half did not. The initial results of the clinical trial showed that the sigmoidoscopy screening test could reduce the incidence of colon cancer, as well as reduce mortality rates from the disease. The new clinical study aimed to determine if these results held up over the long term.