Muris J W, Starmans R, Pop P, Crebolder H F, Knottnerus J A
Department of General Practice, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Fam Pract. 1992 Dec;9(4):415-20. doi: 10.1093/fampra/9.4.415.
In most textbooks of gastroenterology, diseases with their symptoms are discussed. The exact diagnostic value of these symptoms, however, regarding the differentiation between organic and functional disease, is not mentioned. A criteria-based meta-analysis of the few existing studies in this field was done. From the 14 identified studies, there were two that did not find any significant symptoms. In the other studies the diagnostic value of colonic symptoms showed great variability. Methodological deficiencies in these studies are probably responsible for the latter. The generalization of these results into general practice is not straightforward and needs research in general practice patients.
