Relationship Between Patterns of Bleeding and Hemoccult Sensitivity in Patients with Colorectal Cancers or Adenomas

Abstract

Although Hemoccult (Smith Kline Diagnostics, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif.) screening for colorectal cancer is based on detection of the peroxidase activity of blood, little is known about the relationship between patterns of bleeding from cancers or adenomas and sensitivity of the test slides. 51Cr-labeled blood loss was measured for a mean of 9.1 days in 46 patients with colorectal cancer and 28 with adenomas. Duplicate sets of Hemoccult II slides were prepared by the patients and mailed for testing with and without preliminary rehydration. Mean blood loss was significantly related to the site of the cancers, but was unrelated to Dukes' staging. Geometric mean levels of blood loss from the cance..