Who Is at Risk for Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer?

Abstract

Modern medical decision making, whether preventive, diagnostic, or therapeutic, emphasizes the risk stratification of patients, and is heavily informed and influenced by evidence-based guidelines. Such guidelines for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening were first published in 1997,1 and subsequently by multiple professional organizations. Although there have been disagreements regarding choice of screening modality, the start age of 50 years for most average-risk individuals (with the notable exception of African Americans) has been mostly unchallenged.