[A retrospective clinico-endoscopic study of colorectal cancer. Personal case histories]

Over a decade (1978-88), 180 cases of colorectal carcinoma were diagnosed. Twenty of the patients had shown no "precancerous" colonic conditions whereas screening had revealed various pathologies indicating risk in the remaining 160. The percentage distribution of the tumour in the large bowel was as follows: sigmoid colon 38%, rectum 25%, descending colon 21%, caecum 12%, transverse colon 4%. Dukes-type surgical staging of the screened patients revealed 42% in stage A, 48% stage B and 10% stage C. The sensitivity and specificity of the haemoccult test was 86% and 98% respectively while the diagnostic accuracy of double-contrast opaque enema was 79% compared to 84% for coloscopy alone and 98% for combined coloscopy and biopsy.