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Original article
Definition and taxonomy of interval colorectal cancers: a proposal for standardising nomenclature
  1. S Sanduleanu1,
  2. C M C le Clercq1,
  3. E Dekker2,
  4. G A Meijer3,
  5. L Rabeneck4,
  6. M D Rutter5,
  7. R Valori6,
  8. G P Young7,
  9. R E Schoen8
  10. On behalf of the Expert Working Group on ‘Right-sided lesions and interval cancers’, Colorectal Cancer Screening Committee, World Endoscopy Organization
  1. 1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine; and GROW, School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht The Netherlands
  2. 2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  3. 3Department of Pathology, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  4. 4Department of Medicine, University of Toronto; and Cancer Care Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  5. 5Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, UK; and Durham University School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, UK
  6. 6Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Gloucester, UK
  7. 7Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
  8. 8Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Silvia Sanduleanu, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine; and GROW, School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Postbox 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, the Netherlands; s.sanduleanu{at}mumc.nl

Abstract

Objective Interval colorectal cancers (interval CRCs), that is, cancers occurring after a negative screening test or examination, are an important indicator of the quality and effectiveness of CRC screening and surveillance. In order to compare incidence rates of interval CRCs across screening programmes, a standardised definition is required. Our goal was to develop an internationally applicable definition and taxonomy for reporting on interval CRCs.

Design Using a modified Delphi process to achieve consensus, the Expert Working Group on interval CRC of the Colorectal Cancer Screening Committee of the World Endoscopy Organization developed a nomenclature for defining and characterising interval CRCs.

Results We define an interval CRC as a “colorectal cancer diagnosed after a screening or surveillance exam in which no cancer is detected, and before the date of the next recommended exam”. Guidelines and principles for describing and reporting on interval CRCs are provided, and clinical scenarios to demonstrate the practical application of the nomenclature are presented.

Conclusions The Working Group on interval CRC of the World Endoscopy Organization endorses adoption of this standardised nomenclature. A standardised nomenclature will facilitate benchmarking and comparison of interval CRC rates across programmes and regions.

  • COLORECTAL CANCER
  • SCREENING

https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2014-307992

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