[Preliminary notes on the possibility of screening for colonic and rectal cancer]

Preliminary results with the Hemoccult test at the Cesena Tumour Diagnosis and Treatment Centre showed that it is a valid aid in the early diagnosis of colorectal tumours. The test, which is based on the presence of occult blood in faeces revealed 3 cases of cancer in 1191 patients who came of their own accord to the Centre following an information campaign. Screening in accordance with differentiated bands of the population at risk is proposed as the least expensive and most practical way of employing the test.