Abstract

GONZALEZ, Nicolás et al. Colonoscopy findings in a population of patients with positive Fecal Occult Blood Test. Arch. Med Int [online]. 2011, vol.33, n.2, pp.21-23. ISSN 0250-3816.

Immunology fecal occult blood tests (IFOBT) are currently one of the most widespread strategies for the screening of colorectal cancer (CRC) and advanced pre-cancerous lesions. Objectives: To describe the colonoscopic findings in a population of patients with positive IFOBT and to learn about its relation with the presence of CRC. Methods: Retrospective collection of the data of patients with a positive FOBT and immunochromatography testing who underwent colonoscopy in the 2007-2008 period. Patients with a previous colonoscopy, inflammatory bowel disease, colectomy or hemicolectomy, and those with partial colonoscopy and/or with a poor bowel preparation. Results: of the 89 patients enrolled, 49 (55%) were females and 40 (45%) were males. Colonoscopy showed 2 (2.2%) CRCs, 33 (37%) polyps (8 patients were polyps ≥ 10 mm), and 54 (60.6%) patients with internal hemorrhoids. Conclusions: It is difficult to know the true precision of the FOBT in terms of its sensitivity and specificity for the detection of colorectal malignancies. Based on the findings of this study, the FOBT would have a very low specificity for the diagnosis of CRC.

Keywords : colorectal screening; occult fecal blood.

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