Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in North America. These deaths are preventable with proper screening. Fecal occult blood testing, virtual colonoscopy, and standard (optical) colonoscopy are all options for colon cancer screening, but it is not known which is the best at preventing death from colon cancer. A large study comparing these three tests is desperately needed. In this pilot study, the investigators want to find out what percentage of patients will show up for their screening test once enrolled. This will provide crucial information for the successful execution of the larger study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SCREENING
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
198
FOBT
computed tomographic colonography
optical (conventional / endoscopic) colonoscopy
Hamilton Health Sciences
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Proportion of enrolled patients who attend for their assigned screening test
Time frame: Immediate
Proportion of non-responders to mailed invitations, who respond to telephone or mail reminders.
Time frame: Immediate
Proportion of patients requiring polypectomy after virtual colonoscopy who receive same or next day optical colonoscopy for polypectomy
Time frame: 6 months
Proportion of subjects who cross over to another arm of the study
Time frame: 6 months
Proportion of patients found to have an advanced adenoma
Time frame: 6 months
Proportion of patients found to have invasive colorectal carcinoma
Time frame: 6 months
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