英国一项最新研究说，老人患肠癌风险较高，但只要进行乙状结肠镜检查，就可及时发现肠癌前兆，从而有效预防这种癌症的发生。
英国帝国理工学院等机构研究人员在新一期《柳叶刀》医学期刊上报告说，这项持续十多年的研究共跟踪了约17万人的健康状况，其中约4万人接受了乙状结肠镜检查。结果显示，对于年龄在55岁和66岁之间的人来说，接受这种检查可使肠癌发生率下降三分之一；而在肠癌引起的死亡率上，接受检查人群与其他人相比要低43％。
在乙状结肠镜检查中，医生通过插入体内的内视镜来检查肠道状况，如果发现息肉等癌症前兆，可以及时将其在癌变前切除。
领导研究的温迪·阿特金教授说，这项研究首次显示可以通过医学检查来显着降低肠癌发生率，推广这种检查可以拯救成千上万人的生命。
据介绍，全球每年有约60万人死于肠癌，约九成肠癌患者是55岁以上的老人。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推荐原文出处：
The Lancet doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60551-X
Once-only flexible sigmoidoscopy screening in prevention of colorectal cancer: a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Prof Wendy S Atkin PhD a , Rob Edwards PhD b, Ines Kralj-Hans PhD a, Kate Wooldrage MSc a, Andrew R Hart MD c, Prof John MA Northover MS d, D Max Parkin MD e, Prof Jane Wardle PhD f, Prof Stephen W Duffy MSc b, Prof Jack Cuzick PhD b, UK Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Trial Investigators
Background
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide and has a high mortality rate. We tested the hypothesis that only one flexible sigmoidoscopy screening between 55 and 64 years of age can substantially reduce colorectal cancer incidence and mortality.
Methods
This randomised controlled trial was undertaken in 14 UK centres. 170 432 eligible men and women, who had indicated on a previous questionnaire that they would accept an invitation for screening, were randomly allocated to the intervention group (offered flexible sigmoidoscopy screening) or the control group (not contacted). Randomisation by sequential number generation was done centrally in blocks of 12, with stratification by trial centre, general practice, and household type. The primary outcomes were the incidence of colorectal cancer, including prevalent cases detected at screening, and mortality from colorectal cancer. Analyses were intention to treat and per protocol. The trial is registered, number ISRCTN28352761.
Findings
113 195 people were assigned to the control group and 57 237 to the intervention group, of whom 112 939 and 57 099, respectively, were included in the final analyses. 40 674 (71%) people underwent flexible sigmoidoscopy. During screening and median follow-up of 11·2 years (IQR 10·7—11·9), 2524 participants were diagnosed with colorectal cancer (1818 in control group vs 706 in intervention group) and 20 543 died (13 768 vs 6775; 727 certified from colorectal cancer [538 vs 189]). In intention-to-treat analyses, colorectal cancer incidence in the intervention group was reduced by 23% (hazard ratio 0·77, 95% CI 0·70—0·84) and mortality by 31% (0·69, 0·59—0·82). In per-protocol analyses, adjusting for self-selection bias in the intervention group, incidence of colorectal cancer in people attending screening was reduced by 33% (0·67, 0·60—0·76) and mortality by 43% (0·57, 0·45—0·72). Incidence of distal colorectal cancer (rectum and sigmoid colon) was reduced by 50% (0·50, 0·42—0·59; secondary outcome). The numbers needed to be screened to prevent one colorectal cancer diagnosis or death, by the end of the study period, were 191 (95% CI 145—277) and 489 (343—852), respectively.
