Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United States. Research has shown that screening adults for early cancers or their precursor lesions, followed by appropriate therapy and continued surveillance, can reduce CRC incidence and mortality.  A general consensus has emerged that periodic screening of adults over age 50 is a valuable preventive intervention, and today most health plans cover CRC screening, yet, there is continued uncertainty about the specific screening strategies that should be offered to individuals who are at average risk for CRC.

This report is a summary of the workshop, "Economic Models of Colorectal Cancer Screening in Average-Risk Adults" that was held by the Institute of Medicine's National Cancer Policy Board on January 26-27, 2004, to explore the reasons for differences among leading cost-effectiveness analysis models of CRC screening. 

Participants discussed the results of a collaborative pre-workshop exercise undertaken by five research teams that have developed and maintained comprehensive models of CRC screening in average-risk adults.   The purpose of the exercise was to provide workshop participants with insights into each model's structure and assumptions and possible explanations for differences in their published analyses.  Workshop participants also examined the current state of knowledge on key inputs to the models with a view toward identifying areas where further research may be warranted. Presentations from the workshop, published as appendixes in the workshop summary, are also available below.