[Currently recommended use of the Hemoccult for the detection of rectocolic tumors]

Because colorectal carcinoma is both very frequent and extremely serious, diagnosis and treatment of this cancer are a major Public Health issue in France. The recognition of the filiation between polyps and cancer has led to considering prevention of colorectal cancer through the detection of polyps. The usefulness of the hemoccult test is discussed. Reported results warrant the rejection of this method for the individual detection of colorectal tumors because of poor sensitivity. Conversely, there are grounds for advocating the use of the hemoccult test for mass screening on certain conditions; the most important of these is that a negative test must not be considered as sufficient to eliminate the diagnosis. If screening plans with the hemoccult test are implemented, they will have to be coordinated with an important health education program to promote individual prevention using endoscopy, particularly in high risk and symptomatic subjects.