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Using iron deficiency tests for colorectal cancer screening: a feasibility study in one UK general practice
Author(s) -
Edwards Adrian,
Penney Michael,
Allison Miles
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of evaluation in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.737
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2753
pISSN - 1356-1294
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2753.2004.00524.x
Subject(s) - colorectal cancer , medicine , iron deficiency , general practice , colorectal cancer screening , family medicine , cancer , colonoscopy , anemia
Iron deficiency is common at presentation in colorectal cancer. Testing for it may complement other screening tests such as faecal occult blood testing and sigmoidoscopy. We therefore examined the feasibility of offering iron deficiency testing to patients in a primary care setting in the UK, offering testing to all 1240 patients aged 55–74 years in one general practice in South Wales, UK. Patients with abnormal results were assessed and offered further investigations. Five hundred and fifty‐one people (44.4%) attended for iron deficiency blood tests, of whom 26 patients (4.7%) were iron deficient and offered endoscopic assessment. This identified two cases of benign neoplasia amenable to treatment and no cases of cancer. Iron deficiency testing in a screening context appeared feasible although uptake may be low.