High Adenoma Detection Rates in Fecal Immunochemical Test-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening: Interim Results of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program in Qatar

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers globally. Recent reductions in mortality rates have been primarily attributed to screening programs. The State of Qatar established a national bowel cancer screening program in 2016. Methodology: Fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) was used for average-risk individuals aged 50 to 74 years. Fecal immunochemical testing -positive participants were referred for total colonoscopy to detect polyps and cancers. Results: Among 32,751 FIT invitees, 11,130 took the test, and 758 (6%) of those were FIT positive. Of these, 375 (56.13%) participants underwent a colonoscopy, and polyps were detected in 198 (52.8%) and cancers in 19 (5.1%) participants. The adenoma detection rate exceeded 40%. Discussion and conclusion: The high yield of polyps and cancers in the screening program justifies an active, resource-intensive, and organized bowel cancer screening effort. The high adenoma detection rate in a FIT-based program warrants recalibration of target adenoma detection rates in screening programs.