Longer interval between first colonoscopy with negative findings for colorectal cancer and repeat colonoscopy

For individuals without a family history of colorectal cancer (CRC), colonoscopy screening every 10 years is recommended. However, debate exists about whether and for how long this 10-year interval could be safely expanded. In a cohort study of 110.074 individuals with no family history of CRC and negative findings on their first screening colonoscopy (exposed group) and 1,981,332 matched individuals (control group), risks of CRC and CRC-specific death were lower for 15 years in the exposed group, suggesting that extending the screening interval from 10 to 15 years would miss only 2 CRC cases and 1 CRC-related death per 1000 individuals, while potentially avoiding 1000 colonoscopies. The authors conclude that the 10 year interval between colonoscopy screenings for CRC could be safely extended to 15 years in patients with no family history of CRC and negative findings on their first colonoscopy