Digital rectal fecal occult blood screening during gynecologic examination

Digital rectal fecal occult blood screening during gynecologic examination

Willis F L; Fanning J

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

2004

2004-05

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of digital rectal fecal occult blood screening during pelvic examination. Study design: We reviewed the data for 232 consecutive women who underwent digital rectal fecal occult blood screening during routine pelvic examination and who had had at least 1-year of follow-up visits: 59% of the women were followed for gynecologic cancer, and 41% of the women were followed for benign gynecologic disease. The median age was 62 years. Patients with positive digital rectal fecal occult blood screening were sent for gastroenterologic examination. Results: Sixteen of 232 patients (7%) had a positive digital rectal fecal occult blood screening result. On gastroenterologic examination, 5 of the 16 patients (31%) were found to have disease (2 polyps, 1 diverticular disease, 2 radiation proctitis). At 1-year follow-up, no patient had colon cancer. Conclusion: Until better compliance can be obtained with home stool sample fecal occult blood testing, we recommend a larger study of digital rectal fecal occult blood screening during gynecologic examination to verify our results. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

cancer; Obstetrics & Gynecology; occult blood screening; pelvic examination

Journal Article

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1422-1423

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