TU4.5 qFIT test: the future of colorectal cancer investigation

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers. In 2013 in the UK, 41,112 people were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 15,903 people died from it. The qFIT(quantitative faecal immunochemical test) is now widely used in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBSCP). It is also a good test to identify symptomatic people at higher risk of having a diagnosis of colorectal cancer. We present single center experience with Q fit testing. Methods Retrospective cohort study performed in a large district general hospital looking at the outcome of patients with +ve qFIT test (≥10 micrograms). Results Over the period from July 2020 till November 2021, over 2000 patients had qFIT tests to investigate red flag lower GI symptoms. Out of the 2000 patients, 448 patients had +ve qFIT. Over 70% of the patients Referred by the GP with Change in bowel habits, the test was organized by the hospital not the primary care. 260 patients were investigated with colonoscopy, 17 patients had histology confirming colorectal cancer. 172 patients were not fit enough for colonoscopy and were investigated with CT colon/CT, only 3 patients out of this group had features suggesting colorectal cancer on the CT scan. Conclusion 20 out of 448 patients were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, the rest of the patients had either benign colorectal polyps or diverticular disease. As the qFIT test is now more widely used, it needs to be organised by the primary care centers to speed up the process of diagnosis and management.