Quality in Colon Cancer Screening COLORECTAL CANCER, SERIES #2

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer death. Mortality can be reduced by screening asymptomatic individuals. Several different screening modalities have been recommended by experts. The ultimate effectiveness of a screening program depends on patient compliance and delivery of a high quality test at appropriate intervals. Each recommended screening program has significant quality control issues which can impair program effectiveness. This review describes the quality issues associated with colon cancer screening, and provides a framework for improving quality.