Chemical and immunological testing for faecal occult blood in screening subjects at risk of familial colorectal cancer. Issue 1 (January 1997)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hunt, L M; Rooney, P S; Bostock, K; Robinson, M H; Hardcastle, J D; Armitage, N C
• Is Part Of: Gut. Volume 40:Issue 1(1997)
• Page Start: 110
• Page End: 112
• Publication Date: 1997-01
• Subjects: Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1136/gut.40.1.110
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0017-5749

Abstract

Abstract : BACKGROUND: People with a family history of colorectal cancer have an increased risk of the disease themselves. Many centres are advocating family history screening by endoscopy. AIMS: The performance of chemical and immunological faecal occult blood tests (Haemoccult and Hemeselect) in 212 subjects with a family history of colorectal cancer was assessed. RESULTS: Both Hemeselect and Haemoccult were positive in the only patient with colorectal cancer. Hemeselect was more sensitive than Haemoccult for adenomas (40% compared with 20%) (adenomas larger than 1 cm 75% compared with 50%). No additional abnormality was detected by the addition of Haemoccult or Hemeselect to 60 cm flexible sigmoidoscopy in screening people at lower levels of familial risk. A false positive rate of 16% for Hemeselect resulted in a high proportion of additional colonoscopies in this group. CONCLUSIONS: At present faecal occult blood tests are not sufficiently sensitive or specific to replace endoscopy in screening people at risk of familial colorectal cancer.