Colorectal cancer screening: The value of early detection and modern challenges

Core Tip

Core Tip: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening holds immense significance in facilitating early detection, mitigating mortality rates, and bolstering the likelihood of favorable outcomes through less-intrusive therapeutic interventions. However, the landscape of CRC screening is fraught with diverse challenges, ranging from the intricacies of both noninvasive and invasive diagnostic modalities to socioeconomic impediments and the disruptive influence of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, which has noticeably attenuated screening frequencies. The emergence of early-onset CRC further compounds these challenges, necessitating tailored screening approaches. In the future, advancements in artificial intelligence and gene sequencing technologies harbor the promise of profoundly transforming CRC screening paradigms, potentially increasing their efficacy and accessibility. Forging global health collaborations will be pivotal in propelling the future of CRC prevention and treatment.