Results of the fecal immunochemical test in a colorectal cancer screening program in Mexico

Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the main five causes of morbidity and mortality by oncologic diseases in our country and worldwide. Recently, fecal immunochemical test (FIT) has proven to be a non-invasive screening test that allows to select patients most likely to have a pre-malign lesion to perform a colonoscopy. Objective: The aim of the study was to report the findings of a CRC screening program using FIT in our country population. Method: A multicentric study was performed, by inviting open population older than 50 years to participate in a CRC screening. Quantitative FIT specific for human hemoglobin was used, with a cut point of 100 ng/mL or higher to consider as positive. Those patients with positive results were asked to undergo a colonoscopy. In the cases where polypoid lesions were found, biopsies were performed. Results: In total, 751 FIT was processed, and 51 (6.8) of those were positive, with a rate of 15.9 premalign lesions for 1000 individuals, and 1.3 patients with CRC for every 1000. Conclusions: The present study matches worldwide reports, supporting the initiative of establishing a formal and standardized CRC screening program in the public health sector.