Screening exams
There are several recognized procedures for colorectal cancer screening. In this section we provide a short description of each one, so you can have a better idea of them.
Screening methods are divided into those that detect polyps and cancer (using imaging techniques to visualize the inside of the colon and rectum), and those that only identify cancer (through biochemical, immunochemical and molecular tests that looks for evidence in the stools).
Tests that can detect polyps and/or colorectal cancer:
- Colonoscopy
- Rectosigmoidoscopy
- Double-contrast barium enema (DCBE)
- Computed tomographic (CT) colonography
Tests that mainly detect cancer:
- Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)
- Fecal Immunochemical test (FIT)