New efforts for colorectal cancer screening. A critical review

Colorectal cancer is a serious health problem and its overall survival rate has shown little improvement even with the application of new techniques and treatment. Studies have demonstrated that early detection and subsequent removal by endoscopic polipectomy reduces the mortality rate so it is important that efforts be focused on 'primary prevention' and also on 'secondary prevention' which is carried out to recognise cancer at a stage when therapeutic techniques are still efficacious. Recent advances in the understanding of clinical and biological characteristics of colorectal cancer have made the reduction in incidence and mortality of this disease more than a theoretical possibility. At this time, screening for colorectal cancer helps in reducing mortality and should be recommended.