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18 July 2005 Hong
Kong Chinese has the Highest Prevalence of Colorectal Neoplasm
¡@¡@Screening for colorectal neoplasms enables early detection of polyps or cancer at an earlier stage, and reduces colorectal cancer development and its associated death. Several screening methods are available. The use of colonoscopy examines the entire colon with high accuracy and if polyps are found, they can be safely removed. In the United States and western countries, screening with the use of colonoscopy is one standard practice. The feasibility of colonoscopy screening in Asia is however unknown. ¡@¡@The Institute of Digestive Diseases of The Chinese University of Hong Kong has previously completed the first colonoscopy screening study in Asia. 505 asymptomatic Chinese subjects aged 50 years or above were examined. Among them 12.5% were found to have advanced colonic neoplasms including cancers and large polyps with advanced histology. The prevalence of advanced colonic neoplasms in Chinese is in fact comparable to that of the U.S. population. More importantly, our study proved the safety and sensitivity of colonoscopy over conventional screening tests like fecal occult blood test or sigmoidoscopy in Chinese populations. ¡@¡@In view of the emergent threat from the colorectal cancer in this region, the CUHK Institute of Digestive Diseases has led endoscopists from 14 Asian cities to form an Asia Pacific Working Group on Colorectal Cancer in 2003 to work together to study the epidemiology of colorectal neoplasm in Asia. In a six-month survey of more than 7,000 colonoscopies performed in different Asian populations, we found that prevalence of colorectal neoplasm was highest among Chinese than in other ethnic groups from Southeast Asia. Among Chinese living in different regions, Hong Kong Chinese has the highest risk of developing colorectal neoplasm. ¡@¡@Results from these two studies indicate the pressing need to implement a colorectal cancer screening program in Hong Kong.
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