Ways to improve the diagnosis and treatment of early colorectal cancer: a literature review and a clinical case study

The development of effective, highly sensitive and highly specific approaches to early detection of colorectal cancer is the basis for the timely use of various targeted interventions that can effectively solve patients’ problems, minimizing the impact on their quality of life. Endoscopic diagnostic and therapeutic techniques continue to play a critical role in improving cancer outcomes and are continually being reviewed and improved to increase detection rates of colorectal cancer. The aim of the study was to analyze and summarize the current scientific literature describing promising developments in early diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer, as well as to describe a case report demonstrating the importance of high-quality diagnostics for selecting a therapeutic strategy for colorectal cancer. Material and Methods. The literature search was conducted in Pubmed, Google Scholar, and Elibrary.ru databases, focusing on articles published between 2016 and 2025, using the key words “colorectal cancer”, “colorectal cancer”, “CT-colonography”, “colonoscopy”. Priority was given to the studies describing the improvement of screening tools for detecting colorectal neoplasia. Of the 100 publications, 41 were selected for this review. Results. Precise optical diagnosis of colorectal polyps, including the ability to predict polyp histology in real time during colonoscopy, appears to be the most promising approach for detecting even small colorectal lesions. This approach can potentially allow for the abandonment of forceps biopsy reducing the incidence of misdiagnosis (as demonstrated in the described case report). Conclusion. To develop strategies for improving early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the human, diagnostic and therapeutic potential in different regions of Russia varies significantly. Researchers should prioritize developing their own diagnostic experience, removing economic barriers to effective colorectal cancer detection, and developing rational ways to improve therapeutic approaches within regional health care settings.