Table 1 -- Current guidelines for CRC screening from different organizations

  USPSTF
(2002)
AHCPR
(1997)
ACG
(2000)
ACS
(2001)
Age ≥ 50 ≥ 50 ≥ 50 ≥ 50
FOBT Annually Annually Combined with flex. sig. annually Annually
Flex. Sig. Interval not specified Every 5 yrs Combined with FOBT, every 5 yrs Every 5 yrs
FOBT plus flex. sig. Either or both Either or both Alternative strategy Combined tests preferred over either alone
Colonoscopy Interval not specified Every 10 yrs Preferred strategy every 10 yrs Every 10 yrs
Barium enema No recommendation Every 5-10 yrs Not recommended Every 5 yrs