Beyond the scope: diverticular disease and post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer

Colonoscopy is considered the gold standard for colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention. It decreases the risk of developing CRC through detection and removal of precancerous colorectal lesions, adenomas, and serrated polyps. Since the implementation of screening programs, the incidence and mortality rates of CRC have decreased [1]. However, post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer (PCCRC), which is defined as CRC diagnosed after a colonoscopy and the scheduled surveillance colonoscopy, occurs in a significant number of patients. Risk factors for PCCRC include poor performance quality of the endoscopist, presence of high risk polyps at the index colonoscopy, increased patient age, and comorbidities of the patient [2] [3].