A Comparative Study on the Efficacy of a Mass Screening Program for Colorectal Cancer — Comparison Between Cancer Cases Detected by Mass Screening and by Outpatient Clinics

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of colorectal screening through a comparison of the characteristics of the cancer cases detected by screening programs and by outpatient clinics. A total of 78 cases with colorectal cancer diagnosed by screening programs using fecal occult blood test in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, was collected as the index group and the same cases (one matched cases) diagnosed through outpatient clinics served as the control group for the present study. A comparison of various factors, such as tumor site, Dukes' stage, histological type, and survival rate, was made between the index and control groups. No differences were noted in tumor site and histological type between the two groups examined. The proportion of early cancer and the survival rate, however, were significantly higher in the index group than in the control group (p < 0.01). These results suggest that colorectal screening is an efficient preventive measure. Asia Pac J Public Health1994;7(3):159-64.