Colorectal cancer screening and prevention: A brief review of the current guidelines and modalities

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a frequently addressed topic in primary care. Recent studies have been published detailing modifiable risk factors for CRC, as well as preventative measures. Providers must be up to date on screening recommendations and modalities. Colonoscopy is the preferred method of screening for CRC, and the screening recommendations in the United States were recently updated in 2020. It is also common for the practitioner to encounter patients who refuse colonoscopy but are willing to undergo alternative methods of testing. The COVID pandemic has also placed a burden on hospital resources, and colonoscopy may not be logistically feasible in some healthcare settings. Therefore, awareness of the guidelines for the various alternative modalities, along with their respective guidelines for frequency of screening is critical. This article provides a brief review of the risk factors associated with colon cancer, the screening modalities (including colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, CT colonography, fecal immunohistochemical testing (FIT), guaiac-based fecal occult blood testing (gFOBT), multi target stool DNA testing (MTs-DNA), and others) and the most recent screening recommendations for the general population.