New randomized trial on cancer risk following polyp removal during colonoscopy published in NEJM: 99 percent of patients with polyps did NOT have bowel cancer after 5 years

The European Polyp Surveillance (EPoS) study is the world’s largest randomized study project investigating the follow-up of patients with colorectal polyps. The project involves nearly 21,000 patients across eight European countries. On September 17, The New England Journal of Medicine published two scientific articles presenting the initial results from the EPoS study. The EPoS project is led by the Clinical Effectiveness Research Group at Oslo University Hospital and the University of Oslo. EPoS could mean that millions of people worldwide who have had intestinal polyps removed require fewer colonoscopies than they do today. This saves hospitals money and reduces the burden and potential complications for patients. The results are expected to change clinical practice globally.