Screening of patients after surgery for colorectal carcinoma: value of faecal occult blood testing and flexible sigmoidoscopy.

Sixty asymptomatic patients aged less than 65 years, who had survived for more than two years after resection for colorectal carcinoma were tested for faecal occult blood loss using Hemoccult-II (six slides). In 55 patients, a double-contrast barium-enema X-ray examination was also performed, and 41 patients underwent flexible sigmoidoscopy. In two cases a positive Hemoccult result was obtained and no colonic lesion was found in one of these patients. Six patients who gave a negative Hemoccult result were found to have adenomatous polyps. Faecal occult blood testing is unsatisfactory for detection of polyps. Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a rapid and safe examination and complements radiology in the screening of patients.