What is the recommended interval for colonoscopy in average-risk individuals?

• A. 5 years
• B. 20 years
• C. 10 years
• D. 15 years

Answer: (C)

Ten years is the recommended interval for average-risk individuals who have had a complete colonoscopy with normal findings and adequate bowel preparation. A clean exam means there’s no existing polyps or cancer to ramp up short-term risk, so rescreening about a decade later appropriately balances cancer prevention with minimizing unnecessary procedures. If polyps are found, the interval is shortened based on the number, size, and pathology of those polyps, and if there are high-risk conditions (family history, inflammatory bowel disease, hereditary syndromes), the surveillance interval is also reduced. Longer intervals like five, fifteen, or twenty years are not used for a routine average-risk screen, since they could miss developing cancers in the interim.