USPSTF lowers age for recommended colorectal screenings

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has expanded the recommended ages for colorectal cancer screenings.

According to a recommendation statement, USPSTF now recommends that physicians screen all adults from 45 year old to 75 years old for colorectal cancer. Previously the recommended age was from 50 years old to 75 years old.

The recommended screening strategies include:

• High-sensitivity guaiac fecal occult blood test (HSgFOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year
• Stool DNA-FIT every 1 to 3 years
• Computed tomography colonography every 5 years
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 10 years + annual FIT
• Colonoscopy screening every 10 years

The task force continues to recommend that physicians selectively offer screening for the condition in patients between 76 years old and 85 years old as the net benefit of screening all members of this population is small, the statement says.