Rapid outpatient detection of rectal cancer by gloved digital scrape cytology.

Prior to a surgical operation for carcinoma of the rectum, it is necessary to have a tissue diagnosis. In a study undertaken to correlate rectal cytology with histopathology and to assess its accuracy, 78 patients had cytology performed at their initial rectal examination in the outpatient department. The results showed no false-positive and three false-negative cytologic diagnoses. A positive cytology report is thus indicative of carcinoma, but a negative report does not exclude it. The method is inexpensive, quick, painless and without complication.