Evaluation of the sensitivity of an immunochemical fecal occult blood test for colorectal neoplasia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the sensitivity of OC-Hemodia, a immunochemical fecal occult blood test (IFOBT) based on the technique of latex agglutination for early stage colorectal cancer and clinically significant adenomas. METHODS: The study was conducted on 885 patients who underwent OC-Hemodia and a colonoscopy. RESULTS: Colorectal cancers were detected in 23 patients (10 Dukes' A, eight Dukes' B, and five Dukes' C or D). Adenomas were detected in 459 patients (16 villous adenomas 433 tubular adenomas with mild or moderate dysplasia, and 10 with severe dysplasia). The sensitivity of OC-Hemodia was 90% for those with Dukes' A colon cancer and 100% for those with Dukes' B, C, or D colon cancer. It was 18.8% for those with villous changes, and 40% for those with severe dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the IFOBT is not a reliable test for the screening of premalignant adenomas, although it is useful for detecting early stage colorectal cancers.