Evaluation of colonoscopic findings in patients undergoing colonoscopy due to positive fecal occult blood test: a single center experience

Abstract

Aim: Fecal occult blood test is used in the early diagnosis of colorectal cancers. We aimed to evaluate the colonoscopic and pathological findings of patients who underwent colonoscopy due to positive fecal occult blood test in a tertiary center.
 Material and Method: Patients who had a positive fecal occult blood test and referred to the xxx Training and Research Hospital endoscopy unit for colonoscopy were included in this study. Age, gender, colonoscopic findings and pathology results of the patients were recorded. Statistical analyzes were performed with SPSS.
 Results: Two hundred and twenty three patients were included in the current study. Of the patients, 101 (45.3%) were male and 122 (54.7%) were female, with a mean age of 53.2 (18-90 years). Endoscopic diagnoses were as 49 (22%) polyps, 13 (5.8%) colon cancer, 4 (1.8%) inflammatory bowel disease, 15 (6.7%) diverticulum, 63 (28.3%) perianal disease, 79 (35.4%) normal colonoscopic findings. Pathological features of colon polyps were as; tubular adenoma in 51%, tubulovillous adenoma in 18.4%, serrated adenoma in 2%, and hyperplastic polyp in 28.6%. Colonoscopy findings of patients according to age groups (over and under 50 years of age); the incidence of polyps (p=0.01) and diverticulum (p=0.001) were significantly higher in patients older than 50 years, while perianal diseases (p=0.031) and normal colonoscopic findings (p=0.008) were higher in patients younger than 50 years of age.
 Conclusion: Colon pathology was detected in approximately 2/3 of the patients presenting with a positive fecal occult blood test. This test is an inexpensive, easily applicable method that helps to detect colon cancer and precursor lesions, as well as pathologies such as subclinical inflammatory bowel disease and diverticulum causing chronic blood loss.