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Michael Kirsch, MD's avatar

Thx for reaching out. I’m queried on Cologuard all the time. I think the upper age cut off should be the same. I don’t have a fixed age cut off but customize this to the individual patient. Remember, although Cologuard is much easier and much more convenient that a colonoscopy, but it offers less protection. I expect that future stool DNA seeking products to have improved performance.

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Michael Kirsch, MD's avatar

Elliott, you know that the medical profession prides itself on using fancy verbiage when a simple term would do quite well! Singultus anyone? Yes, those small hyperplastic polyps have been given a medical label despite having no medical relevance. Thanks, as always, for reaching out.

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Michael Kirsch, MD's avatar

Lewis, you pose an astute question. Yes, the electronic medical record (EMR) can ease my task if it contains prior GI data. However, the original promise of EMR of serving as a repository of all medical records remains out of reach. Nearly every day, I see patients who have had GI care in the Cleveland region and beyond and I cannot access these records. Mind boggling!

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Laura T RN BSN's avatar

How about cologuard?

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Elliot Davidson's avatar

One source of confusion that I often see is the hyperplastic polyp which is really just normal tissue heaped up a bit like a polyp. It carries no increased risk. I think we should rename it. Perhaps a “Kirsch bump”!

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Lewis M Horowitz's avatar

Has or will electronic medical records alter your ability to provide more accurate recommendations on colonoscopy frequency?

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