Faecal occult blood testing in patients with colonic symptoms
Goulston, K.; Davidson, P.
Medical Journal of Australia 2(12): 667-668
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-729X PMID: 7219302 Document Number: 161108
Fecal occult blood testing with Hemoccult is becoming popular as a means of detecting colorectal carcinoma or adenoma. In determining its diagnostic place, such testing must be evaluated in patients with colonic symptoms as well as in asymptomatic populations. False negative test results may be determined by full colonic investigation of screened patients or by their long-term follow-up. One hundred patients with colonic symptoms were screened with Hemoccult testing, sigmoidoscopy and a Ba enema X-ray examination. Of 10 patients with proven colorectal carcinoma, 8 showed a positive Hemoccult test result, as did 2 of 7 patients with proven colorectal adenomatous polyps. A negative Hemoccult test result in patients with colorectal symptoms does not exclude colorectal carcinoma or adenoma; a positive result does usually indicate the presence of organic gastrointestinal disease.