Colonoscopy: Is the 10-Year Interval Too Long?

Guest: Andrew Chan, MD, MPH
Host: Mark DeLegge, MD
Guest: David Lieberman, MD

It's currently recommended that patients at average risk for colorectal cancer repeat a colonoscopy every 10 years. Is the 10-year interval appropriate for average-risk patients, or would patients benefit from more frequent colonoscopies? What evidence do we have to support the idea that more frequent colonoscopies would provide more accurate screening? Or, would a shorter intervals between colonoscopies unnecessarily increase cost and inconvenience, without much added benefit? Dr. Mark DeLegge hosts a point-counterpoint discussion. Dr. David Lieberman, professor of medicine at Oregon Health and Science University, supports the standard interval, while Dr. Andrew Chan, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, challenges the idea that a screening every 10 years is appropriate for most average-risk patients.