Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Are The Risk Of Death From Colonoscopy Complication And Colon Cancer?
Posted on
Wed, 6 Feb 2013
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 6 Feb 2013
Answered on
Mon, 25 Feb 2013
Last reviewed on
Question : It appears to me, from CDC data, that a white male with no risk factors is more likely to die from colonoscopy complications than from colon cancer. .03% deaths from colonoscopy complications, .0002% deaths from Colon Cancer. Where is the wrong?
XXXXXXX
XXXXXXX
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
The risk of death from colonoscopy is approximately 0,006% which is very very low. Lifetime risk of colon cancer for general population is 5%. And this risk is very low for people below 50, and significantly increases with age (especially over 50). The lifetime risk of colorectal cancer mortality is 2,6%. This risk is low because of the usage of colonoscopy for screening. Without this test, the risk would be much higher.
Moreover, you do not have to perform colonoscopy if you have no symptoms. You can do instead iFOBT every year (fecal occult blood test). Colonoscopy should be done every 10 years.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Thank you for the query.
The risk of death from colonoscopy is approximately 0,006% which is very very low. Lifetime risk of colon cancer for general population is 5%. And this risk is very low for people below 50, and significantly increases with age (especially over 50). The lifetime risk of colorectal cancer mortality is 2,6%. This risk is low because of the usage of colonoscopy for screening. Without this test, the risk would be much higher.
Moreover, you do not have to perform colonoscopy if you have no symptoms. You can do instead iFOBT every year (fecal occult blood test). Colonoscopy should be done every 10 years.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I certainly like your more optimistic statistics. Annals of XXXXXXX Medicine 137(2):132-41 report fatal colonoscopy complications of .03%. CDC "Incedence of Colorectal Cancer Deaths 1999-2009" Total Population 22/100,000.
Thank you the reply.
Thank you the reply.
Hello!
My statistics comes from DeVita - Cancer - Principles and Practice of Oncology 8e (Lippincott, 2008) and Greenfield Surgery 5ed. But this is only statistics. You never know if you are in this few percents or not. That is why, screening tests should be done as it is really worth.
Regards.
My statistics comes from DeVita - Cancer - Principles and Practice of Oncology 8e (Lippincott, 2008) and Greenfield Surgery 5ed. But this is only statistics. You never know if you are in this few percents or not. That is why, screening tests should be done as it is really worth.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
