Office-Based Testing for Fecal Occult Blood: Do Only in Case of Emergency
Authors: Harold C. Sox
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2005)

Editorials18 January 2005Office-Based Testing for Fecal Occult Blood: Do Only in Case of EmergencyHarold C. Sox, MD, EditorHarold C. Sox, MD, EditorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-142-2-200501180-00014 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Colorectal cancer is an important source of cancer mortality, ranking a close second behind lung cancer among types of cancer that affect both men and women (1). We know many details of the natural history and biology of colorectal cancer. We know that the gradual transition from small benign polyp to invasive malignancy takes several years, and molecular biologists have traced the accumulation of mutations that drive these changes. We know that we can reduce a healthy person's risk for death from colorectal cancer by inspecting the colonic mucosa and removing polyps and cancer. The proof of this principle is ...References1. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program (www.seer.cancer.gov). SEER*Stat Database: Mortality—All COD, Public-Use with State, Total U.S. (1969–2001). National Cancer Institute, DCCPS, Surveillance Research Program, Cancer Statistics Branch, released April 2004. Underlying mortality data provided by National Center for Health Statistics (www.cdc.gov/nchs). Google Scholar2. Selby JV, Friedman GD, Quesenberry CP, Weiss NS. A case–control study of screening sigmoidoscopy and mortality from colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med. 1992;326:653-7. [PMID: 1736103] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Mandel JS, Church TR, Ederer F, Bond JH. Colorectal cancer mortality: effectiveness of biennial screening for fecal occult blood. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1999;91:434-7. [PMID: 10070942] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program (www.seer.cancer.gov). SEER*Stat Database: Incidence—SEER 9 Regs Public-Use, Nov 2003 Sub (1973–2001). National Cancer Institute, DCCPS, Surveillance Research Program, Cancer Statistics Branch, released April 2004, based on the November 2003 submission. Google Scholar5. Screening for colorectal cancer: recommendation and rationale. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med. 2002;137:129-31. [PMID: 12118971] LinkGoogle Scholar6. Cooper GS, Koroukian SM. Geographic variation among Medicare beneficiaries in the use of colorectal carcinoma screening procedures. Am J Gastroenterol. 2004;99:1544-50. [PMID: 15307875] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Sox CH, Dietrich AJ, Tosteson TD, Winchell CW, Labaree CE. Periodic health examinations and the provision of cancer prevention services. Arch Fam Med. 1997;6:223-30. [PMID: 9161346] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Nadel MR, Shapiro JA, Klabunde CN, Seeff LC, Uhler R, Smith RA, et al. A national survey of primary care physicians' methods for screening for fecal occult blood. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142:86-94. LinkGoogle Scholar9. Collins JF, Lieberman DA, Durbin TE, Weiss DG. Accuracy of screening for fecal occult blood on a single stool sample obtained by digital rectal examination: a comparison with recommended sampling practice. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142:81-5. LinkGoogle Scholar10. American Gastroenterological Association medical position statement: evaluation and management of occult and obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Gastroenterology. 2000;118:197-201. [PMID: 10611169] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Corresponding Author: Customer Service, American College of Physicians, 190 N. Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106-1572. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoAccuracy of Screening for Fecal Occult Blood on a Single Stool Sample Obtained by Digital Rectal Examination: A Comparison with Recommended Sampling Practice Judith F. Collins , David A. Lieberman , Theodore E. Durbin , David G. Weiss , and A National Survey of Primary Care Physicians' Methods for Screening for Fecal Occult Blood Marion R. Nadel , Jean A. Shapiro , Carrie N. Klabunde , Laura C. Seeff , Robert Uhler , Robert A. Smith , and David F. Ransohoff Correction: Office-Based Testing for Fecal Occult BloodOffice-Based Testing for Fecal Occult Blood Michael L. Wolff Office-Based Testing for Fecal Occult Blood Edward P. Hoffer Office-Based Testing for Fecal Occult Blood Christian Jackson and Robert Craig Office-Based Testing for Fecal Occult Blood Harold C. Sox Metrics Cited ByNot FIT for Use: Fecal Immunochemical Testing in the Inpatient and Emergency SettingsEarly colorectal cancer detection—Current and evolving challenges in evidence, guidelines, policy, and practicesPhysician‐office vs home uptake of colorectal cancer screening using FOBT/FIT among screening‐eligible US adultsCancer screening in the United States, 2011Fecal Occult Blood Testing Beliefs and Practices of U.S. Primary Care Physicians: Serious Deviations from Evidence-Based RecommendationsBehind Closed Doors: Physician-Patient Discussions About Colorectal Cancer ScreeningThe Impact of Consumer-Directed Health Plans and Patient Socioeconomic Status on Physician Recommendations for Colorectal Cancer ScreeningScreening and Surveillance for the Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer and Adenomatous Polyps, 2008: A Joint Guideline From the American Cancer Society, the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of RadiologyCan Language-Concordant Prevention Care Managers Improve Cancer Screening Rates?Colorectal cancer prevention: Adherence patterns and correlates of tests done for screening purposes within United States populationsOffice-Based Testing for Fecal Occult BloodMichael L. Wolff, MDOffice-Based Testing for Fecal Occult BloodEdward P. Hoffer, MDOffice-Based Testing for Fecal Occult BloodChristian Jackson, MD and Robert Craig, MDCorrection: Office-Based Testing for Fecal Occult Blood 18 January 2005Volume 142, Issue 2Page: 146-148KeywordsColonColonoscopyColorectal cancerDeath ratesHematologic testsLung and intrathoracic tumorsSpecificity ePublished: 18 January 2005 Issue Published: 18 January 2005 CopyrightCopyright © 2005 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...