DIAGNOSIS AND SCREENING OF COLORECTAL NEOPLASIA

Significant advances were made this past year in our understanding of the molecular genetics and pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. Direct applications of this information are being implemented into clinical practice. Divergent reports over the effectiveness of fecal occult blood testing have failed to clarify screening recommendations. As the emphasis on cost-effective screening for colorectal cancer increases, the future appears to lie in determining individual susceptibility with the use of genetic markers and the adjustment of screening recommendations accordingly.