Colonoscopy cost-effectiveness

This study is based upon general-population expectations of CRC risk. The use of aspirin may prove more cost effective than colonoscopy when considering patients at inordinately high genetic risk for CRC, such as those patients from HNPCC famihes. Furthermore, since common polymorphisms in drag-metabolizing systems may affect the efficacy of aspirin in colorectal neoplasia prevention," it is possible that these factors can be used to individualize chemopreventive strategies. 

The diagnosis of CRC, in a symptomatic patient with typical symptoms, is usually performed with colonoscopy and biopsy. The use of a noninvasive imaging modality when the likelihood of disease is very high is useless and not cost-effective, since in most of the cases an invasive examination should be subsequently performed. 

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