Faecal occult blood screening for colorectal neoplasia in a targeted high-risk population

✍ Scribed by Mrs. S. M. Caffarey; C. I. M. Broughton; C. G. Marks

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1993
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 256 KB
• Volume: 80
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0007-1323
• DOI: 10.1002/bjs.1800801114

✦ Synopsis

colorectal neoplasia in a targeted high-risk population

A general practice-based programme was initiated in I987 to identifv individuals at high risk of developing large bowel cancer and ofler them screening of faecal occult blood. In all, 5298 people from 21 general practices in the Guildford area were oflered 7510 screening tests. In total, 5934 tests were completed (compliance rate 7 9 0 per cent) with 287 positive results (4.8 per cent). Of the patients with positive results, 44 had cancer and 38 polyps. The sensitivity of the test for cancer was 63 per cent, the speciJicity 96 per cent and the positive predictive value for all neoplasia 29 per cent. The detection rate of 44 cancers per 5934 people screened compares favourably with data from the Nottinghambasedscreening of an unselectedpopulation (074 versus 0.23per cent).

Recent population screening studies for large bowel cancer in Europe and'elsewhere have used a guaiac test for occult blood in the stools (Haemoccult; Rohm Pharma, Weiterstadt, Germany). The positive rates for Haemoccult have varied from 1.0 to 3.7 per cent, with positive predictive values for neoplasia ranging from 32 to 59 per cent and compliance rates from 53 to 74 per cent depending on the method of in~itationl-~.