Current Status of Fecal Occult Blood Testing in Screening for Colorectal Cancer

patients"men and women aged 40 and older"there are subgroups in the popu lation at increased risk for colorectat can cer (Table These include patients with: prior cured colorectal cancer prior adenomas ulcerative colitis, lasting more than seven years, involving the entire colon history of female genital cancer family history of one of the polyposis syndromes or one of the nonpolyposis, inherited colon cancer syndromes.2 Although much work needs to be done to further clarify these high-risk subgroups, especially those with familial factors, a much clearer picture exists today of those who are at increased risk for colorectal cancer compared with the average-risk population. Technological advances have also occurred recently: new methods for fecal occult blood testing, flexible sig moidoscopy, colonoscopy, and refinement of the double-contrast barium enema.