Precis Future Med.  2021 Jun;5(2):69-76. 10.23838/pfm.2021.00051.

Strategies for colorectal cancer screening and post-polypectomy surveillance for young adults under age 50

• Jung YS

• KMID: 2517762
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.23838/pfm.2021.00051

Abstract

The incidence of colorectal cancer in young adults aged < 50 years is increasing. In line with these recent trends, it is necessary to pay attention to young-onset colorectal adenoma, a precursor of colorectal cancer. Recent studies have reported that the prevalence of colorectal adenomas in young adults aged < 50 years is not low. Moreover, it has been reported that the prevalence of advanced colorectal neoplasia (advanced adenoma or colorectal cancer) in young persons aged < 50 years with clinical risk factors or a positive fecal immunochemical test result is not lower than that in average-risk older persons. In this review, I examined and summarized the prevalence and risk factors of colorectal neoplasia (colorectal adenoma or colorectal cancer) in young adults aged < 50 years. Considering the results of previous studies, I proposed effective strategies for colorectal cancer screening using clinical risk factors and the fecal immunochemical test, and discussed post-polypectomy surveillance for this age group.

Keyword

Colorectal neoplasms; Young adults