Colorectal cancer screening during covid-19 pandemic;A systematic review

ABSTRACT

The pandemic of COVID 19 has led to the postponement of all elective procedures including screening colonoscopy due to the rising risk of infection with covid-19. Routine use of screening tests for colorectal cancer is not applicable during covid 19 pandemic including colonoscopy, computed tomographic colonography, colon capsule endoscopy, and fecal immunochemical test. Focused reviewing of the impact of covid-19 on the various diagnostic modalities for colorectal cancer screening is the objective of this review. Databases of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for literature published before June 2020. This narrative review was created from a conscious dissection of different data obtained from the related articles. Careful categorical writing of the recommendations was done in an easy simple manner. The risk of the spread of COVID 19 infection could be higher after using aerosol-generating procedures such as upper and lower GIT endoscopy. Also, CT might raise the risk of infection. Colon capsule endoscopy may be considered a potentially valuable procedure for colorectal cancer screening during the pandemic of COVID 19. During the post-COVID-19 recovery phase, it is expected to have a high demand for colonoscopy services as waiting lists will grow in that time. Colon capsule endoscopy may be considered a valuable diagnostic modality for prioritizing those who will need screening colonoscopy. Colon capsule endoscopy seems to be superior to other modalities for the screening of colorectal cancer during the pandemic of COVID 19 while postponement of colonoscopy service. Colon capsule endoscopy can be used for triaging those requiring further endoscopic procedures. © 2021 Teikyo University School of Medicine. All rights reserved.