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.
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.
Authors: J D Hardcastle; W M Thomas; J Chamberlain; G Pye; J Sheffield; P D James; T W Balfour; S S Amar; N C Armitage; S M Moss Journal: Lancet Date: 1989-05-27 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: H T Lynch; T C Smyrk; P Watson; S J Lanspa; J F Lynch; P M Lynch; R J Cavalieri; C R Boland Journal: Gastroenterology Date: 1993-05 Impact factor: 22.682
Authors: Jochim S Terhaar sive Droste; Sietze T van Turenhout; Frank A Oort; René W M van der Hulst; Vincent A Steeman; Usha Coblijn; Lisette van der Eem; Ruud Duijkers; Anneke A Bouman; Gerrit A Meijer; Annekatrien C T M Depla; Pieter Scholten; Ruud J L F Loffeld; Veerle M H Coupé; Chris J J Mulder Journal: BMC Gastroenterol Date: 2012-07-24 Impact factor: 3.067