Pesquisa del cáncer colorrectal con una prueba inmunológica para sangre oculta en material fecal. / [Screening for colorectal cancer with an immunological fecal occult blood test]

ABSTRACT

Despite worldwide recommendations, the screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) is not routinely performed in our country. Consequently, we conducted a pilot study to evaluate an immunological fecal occult blood test (FOBT). METHODS: We studied 332 average-risk patients (age over 50 years, asymptomatic, with no personal or family history of CRC) who consulted primary care-generalists from Buenos Aires. They were randomly assigned to screening with one (group I) or three (group II) samples of FOBT (OC-Hemodia). Colonoscopy and/or barium enema and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were indicated to patients with one or more positive samples. RESULTS: 141 of 162 patients in group I (87.0