Abstract

Backgroud/Aims: Proximal lesion without distal finding is weak point in colon cancer screening. Clinical significance of distal finding for advanced proximal neoplasia (APN) is uncertain. Aims of this study were to assess distal finding for prediction of APN. Methods: Asymptomatic 826 adults (age≥50) were collected in KASID prospective study, who underwent colonoscopy and polypectomy. Polyps located distal to splenic flexure were defined as distal polyps. Age, gender, size, appearance, histology of distal polyps were analyzed as risk factor of APN (adenoma≥10 mm or villous histology or high grade dysplasia or invasive cancer). Sensitivity and positive predictive value of distal polyp on APN were assessed. Results: APN were found in 98 patients and 45 (45.9%) patients of them were not associated with any distal findings. Risk factors of APN were male, size of distal polyp and advanced distal polyp. Sensitivity of distal polyp size≥10 mm on APN was 38.8% and advanced distal polyp also 38.8%. Positive predictive value of distal polyp size≥10 mm and advanced distal polyp were 13.3%, 14.4% respectively. Conclusions: Although distal colon findings were helpful to predict APN in asymptomatic 50 years of age or order patients screening, more careful examination is required considering APN without distal polyps. (Intestinal Research 2005;3:121-126)

• Keywords: Distal colon polyp, Advanced proximal neoplasia