Abstract

Background/Aims
Recent studies have reported the importance of screening colonoscopy for colorectal cancer. However, the prevalence of colorectal neoplasms in asymptomatic Korean population has not been determined until now. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of colorectal neoplasms in asymptomatic Korean population and to assess the role of colonoscopy in colorectal cancer screening. Methods: We reviewed the endoscopic and pathologic reports of 3,325 patients who underwent colonoscopy at the Health Promotion Center, Asan Medical Center, from 1998 to 2002. Of them, 2,208 asymptomatic patients who underwent colonoscopy for the purpose of colorectal cancer screening were enrolled. Results: The mean age was 49.2 years and 70.8% were men. The overall prevalence of colorectal neoplasms was 18.6% and the prevalence among patients 50 years of age or older was 26.3%. The prevalence of neoplasms increased with age and was higher in the male. Patients with distal neoplasms were more likely to have proximal neoplasms than those without distal neoplasms. However, 69.2% of the patients with advanced proximal neolplasms had no synchronous distal neoplasms. Conclusions: The prevalence of colorectal neoplasms in asymptomatic average-risk Koreans seems to be lower than that in corresponding Westerns and shows a gender-difference. These results should be considered when establishing a guideline for colorectal cancer screening in Korea. Over half of the patients with advanced proximal neoplasms will not be detected if only those with distal neoplasms undergo colonoscopic screening. Therefore, colonoscopy may be useful as a screening test for colorectal cancer. (Intestinal Research 2003;2:179-185)

• Keywords: Prevalence, Intestinal neoplasms, Korea, Screening, Colonoscopy