| [ Summary ] |
From April 1983 through March 2002, 26,986 asymptomatic Japanese underwent 87,120 examinations of total colonoscopy for screening colorectal cancer in our annual medical health check-ups. Total colonoscopy of the cecum was performed on 98.6% (85,921 examinations). Fifty eight cases of advanced cancer, beyond the submucosa (0.07%), forty two cases of invasive cancer of the submucosa (0.05%), one hundred seventy six cases of carcinoma in situ (0.20%), thirteen thousand three handred forty nine cases of adenoma (15.3%), and fifty two cases with carcinoid tumors (0.06%) were found. Out of forty two invasive cancer lesions in the submucosa, twenty six lesions were of the protruding type (62%), three lesions displayed flat, elevated appearance (7%), and thirteen lesions were of the depressed type (31%). Out of one hundred eighty five carcinoma in situ lesions, one hundred forty eight were of the protruding type (80%), twenty seven lesions were the flat elevated type (15%), and ten lesions were of the depressed type (5%). Total colonoscopy is the best method for screening early colorectal cancer, if cost or compliance are not concerened. |