Mortality reductions of more than 50% may be possible with colonoscopic removal of adenomas. Only 12 deaths from colorectal cancer occurred in 2,602 patients who underwent colonoscopic removal of adenomas, in comparison with an expected rate in the general population of 24.5 deaths, according to a long-term follow-up study published in the February 23 New England Journal of Medicine. That translates to a 53% reduction in colorectal cancer mortality among patients undergoing adenomatous polypectomy. During the 10 years after polypectomy, the risk of death was reduced to a level similar to that of people without adenomas. Although this was a prospective study, the authors conclude that the results are crucial to support current recommendations on screening colonoscopies until ongoing, long-term randomized clinical trials are completed.