Colorectal cancer fecal occult blood testing

Effective colorectal cancer screening programs incorporate annual fecal occult blood testing in combination with regular examination of the entire colon starting at age 50 for average-risk individuals and should be recommended by all health care providers. 

Lieberman D, Weiss D et al (2001) One-time screening for colorectal cancer with combined fecal occult-blood testing and examination of the distal colon. N Eng J Med 345 555-560... 

Levin B, Brooks D, Smith RA et al (2003) Emerging technologies in screening for colorectal cancer CT coionography, immunochemical fecal occult blood tests, and stool screening using molecular markers. CA Cancer J Clin 53 44-55... 

The American Society of Clinical Oncology developed in 1999 a set of guidelines for the surveillance of the post-operative patient with colorectal cancer after thorough review of the literature of common surveillance protocols. Protocols were reviewed on the basis of reduction in morbidity and five-year disease free survival. Monitoring carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) levels and colonoscopy were found to be the most effective in many protocols, with liver function evaluation, fecal occult blood testing, liver ultrasound and chest X-ray being less effective in overall outcome (Desch et al. 1999). Colonoscopy appears to have the best predictive value for morbidity. A pre-operative or peri-operative evaluation of the entire colon is essential in the surveillance... 

Colorectal cancer is primarily treated by surgical resection, and early detection is critical for successful treatment [1], A fecal occult blood test is widely used as the easiest way of screening for colorectal cancer [2], Patients with positive findings need to be diagnosed by subsequent endoscopy in... 

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