Everyday Medicine - Ep 193. Colon Surveillance in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBD) with Dr Ali Eqbal

Inflammatory bowel disease is often thought of in terms of controlling symptoms and maintaining remission. Increasingly, however, we recognise that long-term management also involves reducing the risk of future complications, including colorectal cancer. In this episode of *Everyday Medicine*, I'm joined by advanced interventional endoscopist Dr Ali Eqbal to discuss why patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease affecting the colon require tailored surveillance, how dysplasia is detected, and how advances in endoscopic imaging are improving our ability to identify precancerous changes earlier. *We explore:* – Why inflammatory bowel disease increases the risk of colorectal cancer – When surveillance colonoscopy should begin and how often it should be performed – The role of chromoendoscopy and targeted biopsies in detecting dysplasia – How surveillance enables earlier intervention and helps prevent progression to cancer Whether you're a clinician caring for patients with IBD or someone interested in understanding the long-term management of these conditions, this conversation offers a practical overview of an important aspect of modern IBD care. As always, I'd welcome your reflections after listening.