Usefulness of faecal occult blood testing (FOBT) applied to preventive and diagnostic schedule in hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) family members

Background: HNPCC family members require special diagnostic and preventive treatment. Despite the colonoscopic examination at one-to-two-year intervals applied to these patients starting from their early twenties (20-25 years of age), still a certain number of new cases of advanced colorectal malignancy can be found. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to analyse whether Hem-Check-1, an immunochromatographic faecal blood test applied to HNPCC family members additionally to standard endoscopic treatment, can be of help in earlier diagnosis of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC).
Material and methods: Investigations were carried out in a group of 56 consecutive HNPCC family members of whom 41 were female (73.23%) and 15 were male patients (26.77%). FOBT and colonoscopy were applied to each patient. 17 patients presented positive on endoscopic evaluation (30.36%). Next sensitivity, specificity, both positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of Hem-Check-1 testing towards advanced CRC were calculated.
Results: Advanced CRC was diagnosed in 7 patients. Hem-Check-1 values were as follows: sensitivity (85.71%), specificity (91.84%), positive predictive value (60%), negative predictive value (97.83%) and accuracy of the test (91.07%).
Conclusion: FOBT may be effective in qualifying HNPCC family members for earlier endoscopic work-up.