A comparison of direct brush cytology and biopsy in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

Direct brush cytology has been underutilized as compared with direct biopsy in the endoscopic diagnosis of colorectal lesions. We report on a large series of patients in whom biopsy and brush cytology were compared with each other and with the pathology of the specimen. Our results show that cytology should be used with biopsy to get maximal yield (97% accuracy), especially in areas of strictures or obstruction.