Background Depending on the colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programme, a colonoscopy should be performed within 1 - 3 months after a positive faecal immunochemical test (FIT) result. However, such short timescales may be difficult to meet and seem trivial when most CRCs take years to develop.
Objective To assess the impact of time to colonoscopy on CRC outcomes. Design This French nationwide retrospective cohort study included individuals with a positive FIT result between 2016 and 2019 and a subsequent colonoscopy performed within 24 months.
The risks of CRC, advanced-stage CRC and advanced adenoma (AA) according to time interval to colonoscopy were assessed and evaluated on individual and socio-geographic characteristics. Results Overall, 374 113 FIT-positive individuals underwent post-FIT colonoscopy (86.6% compliance rate), with 21 616 CRCs and 122 359 AAs diagnosed.
Gut (BMJ) published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 06 Mar 2026.
The item focuses on Does a long time to colonoscopy after a positive faecal immunochemical test result have a deleterious impact on colorectal cancer outcomes?
A nationwide cohort study.
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