Should we colonoscope women with gynecologic cancer?

Retrospective analysis of the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program database for the period 1974 through 1995 identified 101,734 white and African-American women, age > or = 25 yr, with prior cervical, endometrial, or ovarian cancer. Subsequent follow-up demonstrated no increased risk of colorectal cancer in women with cervical cancer. For endometrial cancer patients, increased risk of colorectal cancer was confined to women whose diagnosis of endometrial cancer was before age 50, but the increased risk was substantial in this group (RR 3.39; 95% CI 2.73-4.17). For ovarian cancer patients, increased risk for colorectal cancer was substantial for those diagnosed with ovarian cancer before age 50 (RR 3.67; 95% CI 2.74-4.80), and there was some increased risk for women diagnosed at ages 50-64 yr (RR 1.52; 95% CI 1.25-1.83).