Electronic Screening for Inherited Colorectal Cancer Genetic Syndromes

Gastroenterologists are often encouraged to screen colonoscopy patients systematically for possible inherited cancer syndromes. Now, investigators have evaluated one such program for identifying patients at high risk for colorectal cancer in a community-based, open-access colonoscopy practice.

At the time of colonoscopy scheduling, 6031patients completed a risk-assessment questionnaire that asked whether the patient had colorectal cancer or polyps before age 50, three or more relatives with colorectal cancer, or any first-degree relative with a Lynch-related cancer diagnosis before age 50.

For each of the 848 patients (14%) who answered “yes” to at least one screening question, an electronic alert was sent to the patient's endoscopist with a …