ACS comments on colonoscopy study

Editor's Note

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) on October 11 issued comments on a European study examining colonoscopies that was published October 9 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The study, which looked at colonoscopies in Sweden, Poland, Norway, and the Netherlands, seemed to question the effectiveness of colonoscopy screenings for colon cancer, ACS says.

In response, Heidi Nelson, MD, FACS, medical director of the ACS cancer programs, said that the attention the study is generating could discourage some from getting colonoscopy screenings. “We firmly stand behind the science that has unequivocally demonstrated the benefits of these screenings,” she added.