The value of using the faecal immunochemical test in general practice on patients presenting with non-alarm symptoms of colorectal cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Around 50% of individuals with colorectal cancer (CRC) initially present with non-alarm symptoms.

Methods

We investigated the value of using the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) in the diagnostic process of CRC and other serious bowel disease in individuals presenting with non-alarm symptoms in general practice. The study was conducted in the Central Denmark Region from 1 September 2015 to 30 August 2016. The FIT was used as a rule-in test on patients aged ≥30 years with non-alarm symptoms of CRC. The cut-off value was set to 10 µg Hb/g faeces.

Results

A total of 3462 valid FITs were performed. Of these, 540 (15.6%) were positive. Three months after FIT performance, 51 (PPV: 9.4% (95% CI: 7.0;11.9)) individuals with a positive FIT were diagnosed with CRC an

SUBMITTER: Juul JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6133998 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature