Immunochemical versus guaiac occult blood stool tests: results of a community-based screening program.
This study was designed to investigate two guaiac-based and one immunochemical faecal occult blood test in a community screening program. A total of 39,000 test kits consisting of Hemoccult II, Hemoccult Sensa and HemeSelect were distributed and of these 8933 (23%) were returned for testing. Follow-up contact with 1165 individuals who tested positive on at least one of the nine test slides was successful in 1076 cases (92.4%). Physician verification in 631 individuals revealed 25 patients (4%) diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 145 (23%) with polyps, of which 120 (82.7%) were adenomatous. The percentage of smaller adenomatous polyps detected relative to the percentage of large polyps (> 1 cm) was: Hemoccult II 31% versus 60%, Hemoccult Sensa 73% versus 80% and HemeSelect 34% versus 57%, respectively. The proportion of adenomatous polyps greater than 2 cm detected by individual tests was even more striking with Hemoccult II positive for 83%, Hemoccult Sensa for 100% and HemeSelect for 75%. Of the 25 patients diagnosed with cancer, 17 (68%) were diagnosed with early-stage disease. A statistically significant trend (P < 0.001) was observed with positive predictive values ranging from 3.3% for individuals with only one positive test to one approaching 40% for individuals with 7 or more positive tests. In this study, the most sensitive predictor of colorectal cancer was found to be the combination of Hemoccult II/HemeSelect. While there was no increase in the positive predicted value for adenomatous polyps < or = 1 cm, there was a direct linear increase for adenomatous polyps > 1 cm.
Petrelli
N
N
Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263.
Michalek
A M
AM
Freedman
A
A
Baroni
M
M
Mink
I
I
Rodriguez-Bigas
M
M
D018256:Adenomatous Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006138:Guaiac; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
D006138:Guaiac