The Association of FIT-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening with Earlier Disease Detection: The Romanian Experience

Abstract

Simple Summary Given the increasing burden of colorectal cancer in the general population, effective screening programs are essential for the detection of early-stage disease and may provide substantial benefits, compared with opportunistic diagnosis, based on symptom-driven medical consultations and diagnostic procedures, including colonoscopy. In this observational study conducted in Romania, the distribution of tumor stage, local invasion and lymph node involvement was assessed in two distinct groups comprising a total of 236 patients. Comparative analysis revealed a statistically significant endpoint: there is a higher probability of detecting colorectal cancer at an early stage and without lymph node involvement through a screening pathway in the general population, rather than by opportunistic diagnosis. These findings should, however, be interpreted in the context of the limitations inherent to the non-prospective, non-randomized study design.