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PubMed2003

Occult head injury in high-risk abused children.

OBJECTIVE: Head injury is the leading cause of death in abused children under 2 years of age. Evidence for establishing guidelines regarding screening for occult head injury in a neurologically asymptomatic child with other evidence of abuse is lacking. This is particularly important given that many children with acute inflicted head injury have evidence of old injury when they are diagnosed. The primary aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of occult head injury in a high-risk sample of abused children with normal neurologic examinations. The secondary aim was to describe characteristics of this population. METHODS: Children under 2 years of age admitted to an urban children's hospital between January 1998 and December 2001 with injuries suspicious for child abuse were eligible for this study if they had a normal neurologic examination on admission. Subjects were selected if they met 1 of the following "high-risk" criteria: rib fractures, multiple fractures, facial injury, or age <6 months. Subjects were excluded if they had a history of neurologic dysfunction, seizures, respiratory arrest, or if their initial physical examination revealed scalp injury. RESULTS: Of the 65 patients who met these criteria, 51 (78.5%) had a head computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging in addition to skeletal survey. Of these 51 patients, 19 (37.3%, 95% confidence interval 24.2-50.4%) had an occult head injury. Injuries included scalp swelling (74%), skull fracture (74%), and intracranial injury (53%). All except 3 of the head-injured patients had at least a skull fracture or intracranial injury. Skeletal survey alone missed 26% (5/19) of the cases. Head-injured children were younger than non-head-injured children (median age 2.5 vs 5.1 months); all but 1 head-injured child was <1 year of age. Among the head-injured children, 72% came from single parent households, 37% had mothers whose age was <21 years, and 26% had a history of prior child welfare involvement in their families. Ophthalmologic examination was performed in 14 of the 19 cases; no retinal hemorrhages were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support a recommendation for universal screening in neurologically asymptomatic abused children with any of the high-risk criteria used in this study, particularly if that child is under 1 year of age. Ophthalmologic examination is a poor screening method for occult head injury, and one should proceed directly to computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Given the high prevalence of occult head injury detected in this study, further study is warranted to estimate the prevalence of occult head injury in lower risk populations of abused children.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Do oral antibiotics prevent meningitis and serious bacterial infections in children with Streptococcus pneumoniae occult bacteremia? A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether oral antibiotics prevent meningitis and serious bacterial infections in children with Streptococcus pneumoniae occult bacteremia. DATA SOURCES: Using the Medline database, the English-language literature was searched for all publications concerning bacteremia, fever, or S pneumoniae from 1966 to April 1996. STUDY SELECTION: All studies that included a series of children with S pneumoniae occult bacteremia containing orally treated and untreated groups. Children were excluded from individual studies if they were immunocompromised, had a serious bacterial infection, underwent a lumbar puncture, or received parenteral antibiotics. DATA EXTRACTION: Three authors independently reviewed each article to determine the number of eligible children and the outcome of children meeting entry criteria. DATA SYNTHESIS: Eleven of 21 studies were excluded, leaving 10 evaluable studies with 656 total cases of S pneumoniae occult bacteremia identified. Patients who received oral antibiotics had fewer serious bacterial infections than untreated patients (3.3% vs 9.7%; pooled odds ratio, 0.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.17 to 0.73). Meningitis developed in 3 (0.8%) of 399 children in the oral antibiotic group and 7 (2.7%) of 257 untreated children (pooled odds ratio, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.12 to 2.09). CONCLUSION: Although oral antibiotics modestly decreased the risk of serious bacterial infections in children with S pneumoniae occult bacteremia, there was insufficient evidence to conclude that oral antibiotics prevent meningitis. Published recommendations that oral antibiotics be administered to prevent serious bacterial infections in children with possible S pneumoniae occult bacteremia should be reevaluated in light of the lower risk of sequelae from S pneumoniae occult bacteremia and newer data concerning side effects from treatment.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2006

Occult colorectal polyps on CT colonography: implications for surveillance.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the prevalence of polyps that are invisible on CT colonography (CTC) in a population previously screened for colorectal neoplasms. Differences in the prevalence of occult polyps in various populations might help explain the discordant reported sensitivities for polyp detection in published reports of CTC. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy-five consecutive patients who had been previously screened for polyps underwent same-day colonoscopy and CTC. Many of the patients had personal histories of previous polypectomies and were undergoing surveillance colonoscopy. The scans were interpreted prospectively by an experienced radiologist. Polyps missed prospectively on CTC were analyzed retrospectively by three experienced radiologists and categorized as perception errors (visible in retrospect), technical errors (e.g., obscured by feces or fluid), or occult (invisible). RESULTS: Thirty polyps 5 mm or larger were found at colonoscopy, 18 of which were missed prospectively on CTC. Of the 18 missed polyps, 12 could not be identified in retrospect, even though they were located in clean, dry, well-distended colonic segments. These were classified as occult. Ten of the 12 occult polyps showed flat morphology on review of colonoscopy video recordings. Of the remaining six missed polyps, two were classified as perception errors, two as technical errors, and two as a combination of technical and perception error. CONCLUSION: In this population, colonographically occult polyps were common and accounted for more detection failures than perception errors and technical errors combined. The high prevalence of occult polyps may be explained by the fact that previous screening may have led to removal of easy-to-see polyps, creating a study population with a higher percentage of hard-to-see polyps.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Occult tethered cord syndrome: the case for surgery.

OBJECT: Controversy exists regarding proper indications for surgical lysis of the terminal filum in children with voiding dysfunction and tethered spinal cord. Recently, surgery has been offered to children who have a normally positioned conus medullaris and no terminal filum abnormality visible on 1.5-tesla magnetic resonance images (referred to as minimal or occult tethered cord syndrome [TCS]). The author evaluates existing clinical and scientific evidence relevant to this controversy. METHODS: Five retrospective, observational, noncontrolled studies of surgical terminal filum lysis for occult TCS in children were identified. Two further studies in which the authors reported surgical results in children with a normal-level conus medullaris were also identified. CONCLUSIONS: These studies document encouraging clinical outcomes following surgery. Clinicopathological evidence suggests that occult TCS may result from radiographically occult structural abnormalities of the terminal filum. Although a preponderance of Class III clinical evidence supports the use of surgical filum lysis to treat occult TCS, no Class I or II evidence exists. Clinical practice varies; therefore, performance of a prospective randomized clinical trial of surgical terminal filum lysis for the treatment of occult TCS is advocated.

Cauda Equina↗
PubMed1998

Human occult loiasis: improvement in diagnostic sensitivity by the use of a nested polymerase chain reaction.

The development of control strategies for loiasis is of crucial importance in endemic areas and depends heavily on the accurate identification of occult-infected individuals. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) were developed and based on sequences of the repeat 3 region (15r3) of the gene encoding a Loa loa 15-kD protein. The assays was performed on 20 blood samples from occult-infected subjects and 30 from field-collected amicrofilaremic individuals. The size of the initial PCR product was 396 basepairs (bp). When this initial amplification using primers 15r3(1) and 15r3(2) was carried out for 30 cycles, the PCR products from three of the 20 occult-infected and five of the 30 amicrofilaremic individuals were visualized after electrophoresis by staining the gel with ethidium bromide. Subsequent Southern blotting and hybridization with the specific probe revealed hybridization in 19 of 20 occult-infected and 23 of 30 amicrofilaremic samples but only after two days of exposure of the blot to the x-ray film. When the nested PCR was carried out (product size = 366 bp, primers 15r3(3) and 15r3(4)), 19 of 20 occult-infected and 23 of 30 amicrofilaremic samples that were positive by Southern hybridization of the initial PCR products were strongly positive by staining with ethidium bromide. Qualitative Southern blotting of the nested PCR products using the same probe previously described confirmed the ethidium bromide staining results after a very short exposure time of 4 hr. These results demonstrate that the nested PCR amplification product is specific and that its sensitivity in detecting occult loiasis is 95%. This approach has significant promise for the screening of large human populations for active loiasis without the requirement for blotting and hybridization of the PCR products.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Opportunistic discovery of occult disease by use of test panels in new, symptomatic primary care outpatients: yield and cost of case finding.

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic test panels have been advocated by the Japan Society of Clinical Pathology for evaluation of presenting complaints of new outpatients in primary care medicine. The tests have additional potential utility for opportunistic finding of asymptomatic diseases, but data are lacking on the number of new conditions identified by the test panels and on the cost per identified case. METHODS: We studied 540 new, symptomatic patients at the Comprehensive Medicine Clinics of National Defense Medical College during 1991-1997. All underwent testing with the "Essential Laboratory Tests" panel (2) [ELT(2) panel]. This panel includes hematologic tests, urinalysis, total protein, C-reactive protein, albumin, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, serum protein fractionation, six enzymes, and optional tests, including x-rays, electrocardiogram, and fecal occult blood. RESULTS: The ELT(2) panel uncovered 276 additional diagnoses of asymptomatic disease or abnormal health status. The most frequent occult condition was hyperlipidemia (100 cases) followed by liver dysfunction (53 cases). Clinical efficiency of the panel (occult diseases/patient) varied depending on the category of tentative initial diagnosis, with the highest efficiency in patients with cardiovascular disease. We created smaller panels by combining 11 basic tests [called the ELT(1) baseline panel] with one or more additional tests from the ELT(2) and analyzed their cost-effectiveness. Addition of four tests (total cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, glucose, and uric acid) improved both clinical efficiency (0.41 occult disease/patient) and economic efficiency [ 2372 yen (approximately $22.50 US)/occult disease] at a cost-effectiveness of 177 yen per incremental case of occult disease. Addition of further tests decreased cost-effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Although the ELT(2) panel has supplemental utility for opportunistic screening of some significant, occult diseases and conditions, universal utilization of the full panel is not supported by the cost-effectiveness found in this study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Surgical management for occult cervical metastasis of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: In oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the management for clinically negative (cN0) neck remains controversial. This study was to explore rational neck management for cN0 cases. METHODS: Clinical data of 187 patients with oral tongue SCC of cN0, who received surgery alone, were retrospectively reviewed. Rules of occult nodal metastasis, factors that impact cervical node metastasis, and prognostic factors were analyzed. Neck recurrences of different treatment groups were compared. RESULT: Incidence of occult nodal metastasis in all patients was 23.0% (43/187). The most common site of occult nodal metastases was ipsilateral level II. About 83.0% of occult nodal metastases were found in ipsilateral levels I, II, and III. Pathologic grade was an independent influencing factor for occult neck metastases. Occult neck metastasis was an independent prognostic factor for oral tongue SCC. Supraomohyoid neck dissection (SOHND) was an effective therapeutic method for oral tongue SCC of cN0; the neck recurrence rate after SOHND was only 6.7%. CONCLUSIONS: SOHND is the effective and safe treatment for oral tongue SCC.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed2005

Occult hepatitis B among chronic liver disease patients.

OBJECTIVE: Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is characterized by presence of HBV infection with undetectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Diagnosis of occult HBV infection requires sensitive HBV-DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Occult hepatitis B is a new entity and the prevalence of it and its clinical importance has not been investigated yet in Iran. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and clinical importance of occult hepatitis B among chronic liver disease patients in Iran. METHODS: We studied 35 consecutive paraffin-embedded liver tissues cases referred to Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Tehran, Iran during the year 2001 to 2002 for liver biopsy due to its elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels for more than 6 months. Liver biopsies were reviewed and HBV-DNA and HBsAg and Hepatitis B core antigen were assayed in liver tissue by PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS: Our patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) included hepatitis C (77.1%), cryptogenic liver disease (20%), and autoimmune hepatitis (2.9%). Histologically, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and non-specific changes were reported. Hepatitis B virus-DNA was detectable in 8 (22%) patients; however, IHC was negative in all. CONCLUSION: Occult hepatitis B is relatively frequent among patients with CLD in Iran. It maybe associated with more advanced liver pathology (cirrhosis) and more aggressive clinical course (decompensated cirrhosis). Occult HBV infection causes strong suppression of viral gene expression.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1987

[Clinical evaluation of the prolactin secreting capacity for the diagnosis of occult hyperprolactinemia].

To clarify the diagnostic criteria of occulted or transient hyperprolactinemia, the resting prolactin level and the prolactin secreting capacity of normal women, which were tested with a 500 micrograms of TRH injection, were compared with those of patients with occulted hyperprolactinemia. Results revealed that: resting levels of prolactin in normal women were 13.4 +/- 4.4 ng/ml (mean +/- S.D.) in the follicular phase and 13.4 +/- 5.6 ng/ml in the luteal phase, which overlapped those of occulted hyperprolactinemia. the prolactin secreting capacity of occulted hyperprolactinemia was significantly greater than that of the normal women. These results indicated that it was impossible to distinguish the occulted hyperprolactinemia from the normal by the measuring the resting prolactin level, but possible by the evaluating the prolactin secreting capacity. If the serum prolactin was more than 150 ng/ml at 15 min. after TRH administration, occulted hyperprolactinemia was strongly suggested.

Circadian Rhythm↗
PubMed1993

Sensitive and reproducible detection of occult disease in patients with follicular lymphoma by PCR amplification of t(14;18) both pre- and post-treatment.

The t(14;18) chromosomal translocation occurs in most follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and places the Bcl-2 gene on chromosome 18q21 into the immunoglobulin JH region on chromosome 14q32. This translocation can be exploited to detect clonal malignant cells bearing this genetic alteration. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay amplifying over the major breakpoint region (mbr) and minor cluster region (mcr) was developed and optimized. In this report, the sensitivity and reproducibility of this semiquantitative assay, performed on a relatively large number of clinical samples is shown. A titration curve of DNA made from a t(14;18)- cell line admixed with increasing ratios of a t(14;18)+ cell line was used to demonstrate that one t(14;18)+ cell in 100,000 t(14;18)- cells could reproducibly be detected. Occult lymphoma cells, not detected by standard morphologic analysis, were demonstrated in almost two-thirds of the bone marrow and peripheral blood specimens obtained from untreated patients with follicular lymphoma. Of 11 bone marrow samples assessed, seven were positive for occult disease by PCR amplification over the mbr and one was positive over the mcr. Of these six positive marrow samples, only three had been reported positive by standard morphologic criteria. In addition, seven of nine peripheral blood samples assessed were positive over the mbr and one additional sample was positive over the mcr. None of these were morphologically positive. Seven of the above patients would have been upstaged if these results were utilized for staging, including two of three patients with stage I or stage II disease. PCR-detectable occult disease persisted in four of four patients assessed both pre- and post-treatment, even after aggressive multi-drug combination chemotherapy in two of these patients. The clinical significance of detecting this occult disease must await the study of larger numbers of patients and the clinical outcomes of patients with occult disease and patients without occult disease.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Prediction of occult neck metastases in laryngeal carcinoma: role of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, MIB-1, and E-cadherin immunohistochemical determination.

The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive value of proliferative activity assessment and E-cadherin expression by means of immunohistochemistry in identifying patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma at a high risk for occult node metastasis. Thirty consecutive patients treated for laryngeal carcinoma with false clinically negative nodes (occult metastases, pN+) between the years 1980 and 1990 were selected for this study. A group of 30 cases with negative cervical lymph nodes (pN-) having a similar anatomic site and tumor size distribution was used as control. In each case, several histological parameters, including grade, pattern of invasion, number of mitosis (x10 high-power field), tumor inflammatory infiltrate, and tumor sclerosis, were assessed. Proliferative activity was determined using immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and MIB-1. Other putative prognostic factors investigated at the immunohistochemical level were the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin and two oncoproteins, p53 and c-erbB-2. In pN+ cases, the expression of PCNA and MIB-1 was significantly higher than in the pN- group. Moreover, a significant loss of E-cadherin expression was observed in carcinomas with occult metastases. No differences in p53 and c-erbB-2 oncoproteins were found between pN+ and pN- cases. Among the other pathological parameters examined, only histological grade was significantly associated with the presence of occult metastases, but on multivariate analysis, this relationship was lost. We conclude that PCNA, MIB-1, and E-cadherin are independent predictors of occult nodal disease in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and their immunohistochemical determination could be useful in identifying patients with clinically negative lymph nodes who are at considerable risk for occult metastases and who may benefit from elective neck dissection.

Antigens, Nuclear↗
PubMed1988

Screening for upper digestive tract cancer with an occult blood bead detector. Investigation of a normal north China population.

Screening of the general population for cancer of the upper digestive tract using an occult blood bead detector supplemented by fibergastroscopy was able to detect 126 cancers of the esophagus, gastric cardia, and stomach. This screening was carried out in two of the high-risk areas, Yangzhong and Wun counties, located in central eastern and north China. The occult blood bead detector, swallowed and retained in the stomach for 3 minutes, was able to sort out the suspected persons by its coloration from sky blue (+) to dark blue ( ) on removal. The subsequent fibergastroscopy could make a definite diagnosis by biopsy specimen. A preliminary trial performed on patients with established cancers was 100% (18 of 18) positive for stomach cancer and 81% (13 of 16) positive for esophageal cancer. A public survey of the high-risk areas, screening 38,073 normal persons ranging in age from 35 to 70 years, showed positive results in 9204 (24.2%) persons. Subsequent fibergastroscopy carried out in 4023 occult blood bead detector positive persons showed 126 cancers (41 of the esophagus, 46 of the gastric cardia, and 39 of the stomach). Factors influencing the cancer detection rate were sex, age, and degree of positivity of the occult blood bead detector test. Seventy per cent (89 of 126) of the cancers discovered were in an early stage. The occult blood bead detector costs the primary screened person only 30 cents and may be practical for the large-scale screening of cancer of the upper digestive tract in developing areas.

China↗
PubMed2000

A randomized controlled trial of a clinic-based support staff intervention to increase the rate of fecal occult blood test ordering.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the second most common fatal malignancy in the United States. Early detection using fecal occult blood tests has been shown to reduce mortality, but these tests are underutilized among those eligible for this screening. Attempts to increase use of fecal occult blood tests in eligible populations have focused on the provider, patient, or system. But none have examined whether a support-staff intervention is effective in achieving this aim. We therefore conducted a randomized controlled trial to test the impact of authorizing support staff to order fecal occult blood tests in a general internal medicine clinic organized into four teams. METHODS: A total of 1,109 patients were included in the study, 545 of whom were in the two teams randomized to treatment. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to evaluate the impact of the intervention. RESULTS: The intervention resulted in significantly more fecal occult blood test ordering in the treatment group than in the control group for all patients (52% vs 15%, P < 0.001). Treatment fecal occult blood test cards were returned as frequently as the control cards for all patients (44% vs 48%, P = 0.571). CONCLUSION: Delegation of selected screening tasks to support staff can enhance patient access to preventive care.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1984

Prospective studies of laboratory and radiologic tests in the management of colon and rectal cancer patients: I. Selection of useful preoperative tests through an analysis of surgically occult metastases.

The laboratory and radiologic tests that give useful information in colon and rectal cancer patients over and above that obtained by routine work-up and surgical exploration of the abdomen have not been defined previously. An analysis of surgically occult metastases was used to discover which test would assist in the management of these patients. Occult metastases for radiologic tests were those occurring within one year after resection of the primary tumor; for CEA they were metastases occurring at any time following surgery. Full lung tomography, liver/spleen scan, computerized tomogram of the abdomen, intravenous pyelogram, bone scan, and postoperative baseline CEA greater than 2.5 ng/ml were analyzed. The postoperative baseline CEA was the most sensitive test detecting occult metastases in 57 per cent (12 out of 21) of a high risk patient population. Both postoperative baseline CEA and computerized tomograms of the abdomen had high positive predictive values of 71 and 67 per cent. The negative predictive percentage of computerized tomograms of the abdomen (18 per cent) was lower than that of CEA (21 per cent). In comparing these tests in individual patients with occult recurrence, postoperative CEA and computerized tomograms of the abdomen were seen to be complementary in that approximately 90 per cent of occult metastases were detected when both examinations were used. Computerized tomogram of the abdomen and postoperative baseline CEA are useful in patients with primary colorectal cancer as part of their routine work-up.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen↗
PubMed1993

Value of faecal alpha-1-antitrypsin, haemoglobin and a chemical occult blood test in the detection of gastrointestinal disease.

Specimens from hospital out-patients and in-patients sent for faecal occult blood tests were also analysed for faecal alpha-1-antitrypsin and faecal haemoglobin. 453 stool specimens from 222 patients were analysed. The clinicians were only aware of the faecal occult blood test results, and diagnoses were made using conventional clinical and investigative criteria. Gastrointestinal bleeding or putative sites of bleeding were diagnosed in 98 patients, whereas in 81 patients putative sites of bleeding were not found or other cause of anaemia diagnosed. In 41 patients there was insufficient information to reach a definitive diagnosis. Comparison of the 3 faecal tests using these grouping methods showed that faecal alpha-1-antitrypsin performed best, with an accuracy of 89%, specificity of 90% and sensitivity of 88%, all significantly better (P < 0.001) than the faecal occult blood test (68%, 60% and 73%, respectively). There was no significant difference between the performance of the faecal occult blood and faecal haemoglobin tests. Faecal alpha-1-antitrypsin measurement may be a useful investigation in situations where a faecal occult blood test would normally be requested.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Intussusception and the diagnostic value of testing stool for occult blood.

A retrospective review was performed to determine the diagnostic value of testing for occult blood in stool of children suspect for intussusception. Ninety-six children had barium enema studies for suspected intussusception. Of the 57 children who had barium enema confirmed intussusception, 29 did not have history or physical findings of gross blood per rectum. Stool was tested for occult blood in 16 of these 29 patients, and 12 (75%) were positive. In comparison, three (20%) of the children who did not have intussusception had stool positive for occult blood. Stool with occult blood was significantly associated with intussusception (P less than .002). The only other clinical factor significantly associated with intussusception was abdominal mass (P less than .02). Vomiting, episodic irritability, poor feeding, abdominal pain and lethargy were not significantly different in the two groups. In conclusion, the authors suggest stool testing for occult blood when evaluating children who present with nonspecific signs and symptoms supportive of intussusception.

Barium Sulfate↗
PubMed2006

Is the type of test used for mass colorectal cancer screening a determinant of compliance? A cluster-randomized controlled trial comparing fecal occult blood testing with flexible sigmoidoscopy.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of colorectal cancer screening has been proved, and three different screening tests are recommended by international guidelines: the faecal occult blood test, flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy. While the effectiveness of a screening program depends on the compliance obtained, the role of the type of test on compliance has not yet been sufficiently studied. AIMS: To measure the effect of the type of screening test used, i.e. faecal occult blood test or flexible sigmoidoscopy, on the compliance to colorectal cancer screening programs. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cluster-randomized two-arm trial was conducted. We randomly assigned 20 GP's practices that had an average of 150 patients between 50 and 74 years old. RESULTS: 1449 individuals were referred to faecal occult blood test and 1538 to flexible sigmoidoscopy. The faecal occult blood test obtained higher compliance: 17.2% (95%CI 12.5-25.7) versus 7.0% (95%CI 5.7-9.0). The socio-economic status was an effect modifier of the test type: the effect of the type of test was smaller in low socioeconomic classes. CONCLUSIONS: The type of screening test used for colorectal cancer is a determinant of participation. In a low compliance area, better compliance will result from offering the faecal occult blood test than from the flexible sigmoidoscopy.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Endoscopic findings in the upper gastrointestinal tract of faecal occult blood-positive, colonoscopy-negative patients.

BACKGROUND: Detection of faecal occult blood is recommended for colorectal cancer screening in average risk populations. However, many subjects do not have any cause found in the colon to account for the occult blood loss. AIMS: To determine the prevalence of upper gastrointestinal tract disease in faecal occult blood-positive, colonoscopy-negative patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective audit of 99 patients (56 females; mean age 60 years, range 18-83) who underwent same-day colonoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy over a 2-year period. RESULTS: Fifty-two of the 99 patients had a normal colonoscopy, 16 had diverticulosis and 2 had hyperplastic polyps; these 70 patients comprised the colonoscopy-negative group. Significant upper gastrointestinal tract disease was noted in 25 (36%) of the colonoscopy-negative group compared with 10 (34%) of the 29 colonoscopy-positive group (p=ns). Most of the upper gastrointestinal tract lesions identified were benign. Within the colonoscopy-negative group, patients with anaemia or upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms had a higher prevalence of positive findings in the upper gastrointestinal tract, but this association was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract in faecal occult blood-positive individuals reveals mostly benign disease, with an equal prevalence in colonoscopy-negative and colonoscopy-positive patients. Routine performance of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in faecal occult blood-positive individuals is not indicated and should be undertaken only for appropriate symptoms.

Adolescent↗