Fecal occult blood screening for colorectal cancer

Abstract

We critically analyzed the current literature on fecal occult blood testing as it pertains to colorectal cancer screening. We used articles published or referenced in the major English-language medical and gastroenterology journals for the last 10 years. Large, randomized controlled trials, case-control and cohort studies, and other sources containing information pertinent to the application of fecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer screening were selected. Although the fecal occult blood test results are capable of predicting the presence of colorectal cancers and polyps, the sensitivity is variable in different studies and low for the latter. Nevertheless, most reports of its use emphasize that a relatively high percentage of the cancers detected are early-stage lesions. Currently available methods for colorectal cancer screening are imperfect, thereby increasing the cost-effectiveness ratio. The fecal occult blood test remains a workable approach to reducing the mortality from colorectal cancer provided it is carried out with attention to important variables such as the need for compliance, including the compliance of physicians.

Early detection for colorectal cancer: New aspects in fecal occult blood screening

“…For mass screening the tests based on peroxidase activity, guaiac-type reagents for color reaction are the most widely used. These reagents, although they greatly facilitate the early detection of tumors in asymptomatic patients, are not human-specific because they may give positive reaction even with peroxidase of several foodstuffs of plant or animal origin [18,24,36,50,61,65,[72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80].…”

“…Because these conditions usually differ from one another, the screening results are hardly comparable that finally increases the number of the scepticals [16,[18][19][20][21]27,37,80,[108][109][110].…”

“…It develops slowly from a precursor lesion and methods of early detection are available [17,18]. Several studies have shown that screening populations for colorectal neoplasia can reduce colorectal cancer mortality [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26].…”

Relationship of Neurocognitive Function to Breast Cancer Treatment and Induced Menopause

“…These measures were comparable, if not better, than many widely used screening instruments for other medical conditions. For example, standard fecal occult blood testing for colon cancer has been reported to have positive predictive values of 5-10%, while mammography has been reported to have positive values from 5 to 38% [115,116]. The effective CGA should be viewed as a three staged process: (1) identifying or targeting appropriate patients, (2) assessing the patient and developing recommendations, and (3) implementing recommendations of health care providers and patients [66,117].…”

Colorectal cancer screening in average risk individuals

“…False positive tests can occur in the presence of dietary animal hemoglobin or vegetables with peroxidase activity (broccoli, turnip, radish, cantaloupe, and cauliflower). Delay in submission of samples or the presence of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) can cause false negative tests [16].…”