Open AccessFecal occult blood testing remains a valuable screening tool
Author(s) -
Barton Mary Kay
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
ca: a cancer journal for clinicians
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 62.937
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1542-4863
pISSN - 0007-9235
DOI - 10.3322/caac.21207
Subject(s) - fecal occult blood , occult , feces , medicine , blood testing , biology , pathology , colonoscopy , microbiology and biotechnology , colorectal cancer , alternative medicine , cancer
Both colonoscopy and FOBT are options for CRC screening. For those at an average risk of developing CRC, screening should start at age 50 years. The 2 screening options most often selected are colonoscopy every 10 years and annual FOBT. While FOBT is noninvasive, if a positive result is found, then a colonoscopy is recommended. Over the course of multiple years of screening, false-positive FOBT results leading to colonoscopies may occur often enough that the advantage of using the noninvasive test is lost for some patients.