Bowel cancer remains one of the most serious challenges in modern healthcare, yet timely diagnosis can save lives. Endoscopic examination plays a primary role in detecting precancerous conditions and tumors at early stages [8].
Why regular bowel screening is necessary
Modern screening methods are aimed at detecting polyps and neoplasms before they develop into dangerous pathologies. Patients with comorbid diagnoses, such as hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, also require special attention from gastroenterologists to rule out concurrent digestive system pathologies [2]. Timely examinations allow for a significant reduction in mortality and the detection of the disease at a stage when it is fully curable.
Colonoscopy as the gold standard
To date, colonoscopy is recognized as the gold standard for the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer [8]. This procedure allows for a detailed examination of the colonic mucosa, the detection of dysplasia, and the immediate removal of suspicious lesions. Regular endoscopic surveillance is of particular importance for patients with inflammatory bowel disease, who are at high risk of developing colorectal dysplasia [4].
Alternative and non-invasive methods
Despite its high accuracy, conventional colonoscopy is invasive and associated with certain risks, which leads patients to seek more comfortable alternatives [8]. In clinical practice, the following are widely used:
- Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) for detecting occult blood [8].
- Fecal calprotectin level analysis when inflammation is suspected [8].
- Innovative methods for analyzing biomarkers in rectal mucus obtained non-invasively [8].
Nevertheless, none of these tests replace full visualization of the mucosa when alarming symptoms are present.
Modern trends and future technologies
The development of medical technologies is aimed at increasing the comfort and accuracy of examinations. Scientists are actively researching new biomarkers and liquid biopsy methods, as well as improving the quality of endoscopic equipment [6], [8]. This allows for less traumatic diagnostics and the detection of pathologies at the earliest preclinical stages.
References
- [1] Preclinical and First-in-Human Study of Carbonic Anhydrase IX-Targeting Theranostic Pair, [^68]Ga/[^177]Lu-NYM096, in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. PubMed
- [2] Association Between ER/PR-Positive Breast Tumors and Digestive Cancers. PubMed
- [3] Endoscopic Diagnosis of Chronic Atrophic Gastritis and Early Gastric Cancer: From Basics to Advanced Imaging. PubMed
- [4] AGA Clinical Practice Update on Endoscopic Surveillance and Management of Colorectal Dysplasia in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Expert Review. PubMed
- [5] Early Detection of Gastric Cancer: Linking Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Innovations in Digestive Endoscopy. PubMed
- [6] A Multi-Center Cohort-Based circRNA Diagnostic Model for Detection of Gastric Cancer. PubMed
- [7] Integrating Digital Ki-67 Labeling Index and K-TIRADS for Malignancy Risk Stratification in Thyroid Core Needle Biopsies. PubMed
- [8] Emerging role of colorectal mucus in gastroenterology diagnostics. PubMed
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for reference purposes only and does not replace an in-person consultation with a medical specialist.