Screening of patients after surgery for colorectal carcinoma: value of faecal occult blood testing and flexible sigmoidoscopy
Chapuis, P.H.; Goulston, K.J.; Pheils, M.T.
Medical Journal of Australia 1(11): 538-540
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-729X PMID: 7393036 Document Number: 168034
Sixty asymptomatic patients aged < 65 yr, who had survived for > 2 yr after resection for colorectal carcinoma, were tested for fecal occult blood loss using Hemoccult-II (six slides). In 55 patients a double-contrast Ba-enema X-ray examination was also performed and 41 patients underwent flexible sigmoidoscopy. In 2 cases a positive Hemoccult result was obtained and no colonic lesion was found in 1 of these patients. Six patients who gave a negative Hemoccult result had adenomatous polyps. Fecal occult blood testing is unsatisfactory for detection of polyps. Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a rapid and safe examination and complements radiology in the screening of patients.