A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine examined the accuracy of fecal immunochemical tests, an at-home stool test, as colon cancer screening tool, according to a Medscape report.
The researchers found that the test is able to accurately detect 79 percent of colorectal cancers. In comparison fecal occult blood tests, the other at-home colorectal cancer test, detect 13 to 50 percent of colorectal cancers.
The researchers did not compare FIT with colonoscopy, so the question of whether or not FIT followed by colonoscopy should become the new standard screening method remains unanswered.
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The researchers found that the test is able to accurately detect 79 percent of colorectal cancers. In comparison fecal occult blood tests, the other at-home colorectal cancer test, detect 13 to 50 percent of colorectal cancers.
The researchers did not compare FIT with colonoscopy, so the question of whether or not FIT followed by colonoscopy should become the new standard screening method remains unanswered.
More Articles on Gastroenterology:
8 Statistics on Irritable Bowel Disease
2014 CPT Code Update: GI/Endoscopy
6 Updates on Medicare & GI Reimbursement for Gastroenterologists to Know