Negative Colonoscopy? 15-Year Screening Interval May Be Safe.

A recent study suggests that the recommended 10-year interval between screening colonoscopies may be extended to 15 years for adults with no family history of colorectal cancer (CRC) whose first colonoscopy is negative for CRC. The study, which used Swedish nationwide registry data, found that the 10-year cumulative risk for CRC and CRC mortality was lower in the group with a negative initial colonoscopy compared to the control group. Extending the screening interval could potentially avoid unnecessary invasive examinations while still maintaining effective detection and prevention of CRC. However, the study primarily included White individuals, so further validation is needed for other populations. [Extracted from the article]