Early clinical outcomes of a rapid colorectal cancer diagnosis pathway using faecal immunochemical testing in...

We introduced primary care access to faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) as a stratification tool for symptomatic patients considered to be at risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) prior to urgent referral. We aimed to evaluate clinical and pathway outcomes during the first 6 months of this novel approach.

FIT was recommended for all patients who consulted their general practitioner with lower gastrointestinal symptoms other than rectal bleeding and rectal mass. We undertook a retrospective audit of the results of FIT, related clinical outcomes and resource utilization on prospectively logged cases between November 2017 and May 2018.

Of the 1862 FIT kits dispatched by post 91.4% were returned, with a median return time of 7 days (range 2-110 days); however, 1.3% of returned kits could not be analysed. FIT results ≥ 150.0 microg haemoglobin (Hb)/g faeces identified patients with a significantly higher risk of CRC (30.9% vs 1.4%, chi-square 167.1, P < 0.0001). FIT results ≥ 10.0 microg Hb/g faeces identified patients with significantly higher risk of significant noncancer bowel pathology (24.1% vs 4.9%, chi-square 73.6, P < 0.0001) and FIT results < 4.0 microg Hb/g faeces identified a group more likely to have non-CRC pathology (5.1% vs 2.4%, chi-square 3.9, P < 0.05). The CRC detection rate in 531 patients investigated after a FIT result of < 4.0 microg Hb/g faeces was 0.2%. In 899 investigated patients, a FIT result with a threshold of 4.0 microg Hb/g faeces had sensitivity 97.2% (85.5-99.9% CI), specificity 61.4% (58.1-64.7% CI), negative predictive value 99.8% (98.7-100.0% CI) and positive predictive value 9.5% (8.7-10.4% CI).

A symptomatic pathway incorporating FIT is feasible and appears more clinically effective than pathways based on age and symptoms alone.