Cost-Effectiveness of Screening for Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Brian Budenholzer, H. Gilbert Welch
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2001)

Letters7 August 2001Cost-Effectiveness of Screening for Colorectal CancerBrian Budenholzer, MD and H. Gilbert Welch, MD, MPHBrian Budenholzer, MDGroup Health Cooperative; Spokane, WA 99210-0204 (Budenholzer)VA Outcomes Group; White River Junction, VT 05009 (Welch)Search for more papers by this author and H. Gilbert Welch, MD, MPHGroup Health Cooperative; Spokane, WA 99210-0204 (Budenholzer)VA Outcomes Group; White River Junction, VT 05009 (Welch)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-135-3-200108070-00018 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:In the same week, both Annals and the Journal of the American Medical Association published cost-effectiveness analyses on colonoscopic screening for colorectal cancer (1, 2). The two articles reached opposite conclusions, but both implied that colonoscopy is a worthwhile expenditure. We worry, however, that discussions of cost-effectiveness are premature and serve as a smoke screen for the heart of the matter: effectiveness. Both articles estimate that screening colonoscopy every 10 years will reduce colorectal cancer mortality rates by more than half (75% and 64%, respectively). The standard evidence given in support of this dramatic mortality benefit (substantially ...References1. Sonnenberg A, Delcò F, Inadomi J. Cost-effectiveness of colonoscopy in screening for colorectal cancer. Ann Intern Med. 2000;133:573-84. [PMID: 11033584] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Frazier A, Colditz G, Fuchs C, Kuntz K. Cost-effectiveness of screening for colorectal cancer in the general population. JAMA. 2000;284:1954-61. [PMID: 11035892] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Winawer S, Zauber A, Ho M, O'Brien M, Gottlieb L, Sternberg S, et al . Prevention of colorectal cancer by colonoscopic polypectomy. The National Polyp Study Workgroup. N Engl J Med. 1993;329:1977-81. [PMID: 8247072] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. . Guide to Clinical Preventive Services. 2nd ed. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1996. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Group Health Cooperative; Spokane, WA 99210-0204 (Budenholzer)VA Outcomes Group; White River Junction, VT 05009 (Welch) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoCost-Effectiveness of Colonoscopy in Screening for Colorectal Cancer Amnon Sonnenberg , Fabiola Delcò , and John M. Inadomi Cost-Effectiveness of Screening for Colorectal Cancer Amnon Sonnenberg Cost-Effectiveness of Screening for Colorectal Cancer Mark K. Chelmowski Cost-Effectiveness of Screening for Colorectal Cancer Ananya Das Metrics 7 August 2001Volume 135, Issue 3Page: 219KeywordsCancer screeningCohort studiesColonoscopyColorectal cancerDeath ratesHeartMortalityRandomized trials ePublished: 7 August 2001 Issue Published: 7 August 2001 CopyrightCopyright © 2001 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...