Table 1.

Colonoscopy screening and surveillance guidelines

Finding	Advised interval
No polyps/adenomas	10 yr
Single first degree relative with cancer (or adenomas) ≥ 60 yr	10 yr (begin age 40)
Two or more first degree relatives with cancer (or adenomas) or one first degree relative diagnosed ≤ 60 yr	5 yr (begin age 40)
Few (1-2), small tubular adenomas (< 1 cm)	5 yr
Advanced adenomatous lesions (> 1 cm or villous histology or high grade dysplasia) or > 3 adenomas	3 yr
Numerous (> 10) adenomas	Individualized approximately < 3 yr
HNPCC	1-2 yr (begin age 20-25)
Sessile adenomas > 2 cm, removed piecemeal	2-6 mo
Post cancer resection surveillance	Clear colon, then 1 yr, then 3 yr, then 5 yr

Joint guidelines from the American Cancer Society, the United States Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of radiology. HNPCC: Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.