Colorectal cancer screening is suggested for persons aged 45–49 years

The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) now suggests that colorectal cancer screening begin as early as age 45 in average-risk individuals. Previously, the ACG recommended screening this early only for African Americans.

This conditional recommendation, based on low-quality evidence, accompanies the group's continued strong recommendation for screening average-risk individuals aged 50 to 75 years.

The new recommendation, an update from the group's 2009 guideline, follows similar moves by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in 2020 (draft recommendation) and the American Cancer Society in 2018.

The guideline authors note that colorectal cancer incidence is increasing in people younger than 50 in the United States.