Screening surveillance for colorectal cancer using immunological fecal occult blood tests has been actively conducted to achieve early detection and treatment. In our facilities, we have conducted screening tests for colorectal cancer on employees since 1988. In this study, we examined the cases of colorectal cancer and adenoma detected by the screening, and compared the one-day method with the two-day method, barium enema examination with colonoscopic study in diagnostic effectiveness, and assessed the usefulness of annual screening tests. 1) Immunological fecal occult blood tests; the detection rate of the one-day and two-day method were both 0.14%, yielding no difference. 2) The agreement rate of the results between barium enema and colonoscopic examination was low in the proximal colon. 3) The more annual screening tests each individual underwent, the less frequently colorectal cancer was detected. At the fourth time or later, no advanced cancer was detected. Furthermore, no colorectal cancer including early cancer was detected in the individuals who underwent six consecutive screening tests. Taken together, annual screening tests were useful, but further reviewing is warranted to employ barium enema examination as the first scrutinizing test.
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