|Relative Frequency of Upper Gastrointestinal and Colonic
Lesions in Patients with Positive Fecal Occult-Blood Tests|
|Rockey DC, Koch J, Cello JP, Sanders LL, McQuaid K| |Abramson
Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania| | Last
Modified: November 1, 2001 Reviewers: John Han-Chih Chang, MD
and Kenneth Blank, MD A commonly used screening method for colon
cancer is the use of occultblood tests. Occult blood testing can
be performed by patients at home.A stool sample is placed on a
card, which turns blue if blood is presentin the stool, and
remains brown if not. These cards are widely used.Fortunately,
the large majority of patients whose cards turn blue do nothave
a cancer, but rather a benign cause for the blood in thestool.
Unfortunately, all patients who have a positive occult test
mustundergo an extensive and costly work-up to ensure the
absence of cancer. Materials and Methods A study published in
the July 16, 1998 New England Journal of Medicineexamines what
percentage of patients with positive oc