The physicians of Acadiana Gastroenterology Associates recognize that Acadiana area residents experience some of the highest colon cancer rates in the country and are strong advocates of appropriate screening colonoscopy for their patients. Colonoscopy is currently the most effective method to screen for colorectal cancer.
The Good News:
- Colonoscopy has proven to reduce the risk of colon rectal cancer development and mortality rate by almost half.
- Individuals who undergo high quality colonoscopic exams experience a further 50% reduction in risk for colon cancer and colon cancer fatalities over a patient’s lifetime compared to those individuals who receive exams of lower quality.
What is High Quality Colonoscopy?
One main measure of colonoscopy quality is the colonoscopist’s “adenoma detection rate” (ADR). This means that the higher the percentage of detected precancerous polyps in an initial patient screening population an endoscopist identifies, the higher the quality of the exam and the more the decrease in the development of subsequent colon cancer and colon cancer death in that screened group.
- An endoscopist’s adenoma detection rate in screening colonoscopy of 30-35% or above is currently considered High Quality Colonoscopy.
- The Acadiana Gastroenterology Associates physicians’ adenoma detection rates reflect and exceed these criteria and demonstrate High Quality Colonoscopy.
Summary:
The importance of appropriate screening colonoscopy cannot be underscored, as early detection is key to reducing the risk of colon cancer and minimizing the risk of death from colon cancer. In the hands of a well-trained endoscopist practicing high quality colonoscopy this reality should be readily achievable.
