Efficacy of the population-based pilot colorectal cancer screening, Csongrád county, Hungary, 2015

BACKGROUND/AIM: In Hungary, a nationwide colorectal screening program is about to be introduced in order to improve the high mortality rate of colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim was to summarize experiences from and assess short-term efficacy of the population-based pilot colorectal screening program in 2015 in Csongrád county, Hungary. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Asymptomatic individuals between the ages of 50 and 70 with average risk of colorectal cancer participated in the program that was based on the two-step screening method: immune fecal blood test and colonoscopy. The short-term efficacy was assessed as the change in total CRC incidence and initial tumor stage in the screening year (2015). RESULTS: 22,130 individuals were invited to participate, and the participation rate was 46.4%. Immune fecal blood test proved to be nonnegative in 1,343 cases (13%), screening colonoscopy was performed in 766 of them (7.5%). Total colonoscopy was performed in 711 individuals. Based on the reports, adenoma was detected in 358 (50.3%) and malignancy in 42 (5.9%) individuals. In the background population, the incidence of colon cancer was higher (183 vs. 228; P = 0.026) and was diagnosed at earlier stage (P = 0.002), while lymph node involvement was lower in 2015 (48.3% vs. 37.1%; P = 0.049). CONCLUSION: The Csongrád county population-based colorectal cancer screening was evidently successful on the short-term considering participation rate, and the changes in CRC incidence and stage, thus its national extension is necessary.