[Colon cancer: the efficacy of double-contrast radiography]

The aim of this study was to determine frequency in which a double contrast colon radiography permits a correct diagnosis in colon carcinoma. The study was done at the Hospital Edgardo Rebagliati Martins IPSS in Lima. Previously the prevalence of colon carcinoma was identified at the place of the study between 1980 and 1991, this was 5%. We chose a representative number of patients, 50, with a confirmed pathological diagnosis of colon carcinoma, in which a double contrast colon radiography (C) was done before the diagnosis was made. The control group was 50 patients with colonic pathology other than carcinoma, in which a DC was performed previously to the diagnosis. Sensibility and specificity were 84 +/- 10% and 94 +/- 6% respectively for DC. The positive predictive value was 93 +/- 7%, the negative predictive value was 85 +/- 10% and efficacy 89 +/- 9%. We conclude that the double contrast colon radiography is of great usefulness for the diagnosis of colon carcinoma.