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Many trials have confirmed the efficacy of screening sigmoidoscopy for lowering colorectal cancer (CRC)–related morbidity and mortality. However, questions remain regarding the duration of benefit from a single screening procedure and whether the benefit of a sigmoidoscopy is as impressive among women as it is among men (who are at higher risk for the disease). Now, researchers report long-term results of a trial in which almost 100,000 Norwegians (age range, 50−64) were randomized between 1999 and 2001 to sigmoidoscopy with or without fecal occult blood testing, or to no screening at all. About two thirds of those assigned to sigmoidoscopy actually underwent the procedure.
At median follow-up of 15 years, CRC incidence among men was signifi…