The number of positive cases and the corresponding sensitivity of stool tests in the screening of important lesions in the upper or lower gastrointestinal tract, stratified by the anatomic sites and cancer stages in the hospital-based deviation cohort
| Lesions in the lower gastrointestinal tract | Faecal immunochemical test (%) | Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (%) | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location of the lesions | |||
| Overall | 65 (37.4) | 61 (35.1) | 174 |
| Distal colon lesions | 28 (36.8) | 28 (36.8) | 76 |
| Proximal colon lesions | 37 (37.8) | 33 (33.7) | 98 |
| Location of the cancers | |||
| Overall | 32 (82.1) | 34 (87.2) | 39 |
| Distal colon cancers | 17 (94.4) | 17 (94.4) | 18 |
| Proximal colon cancers | 15 (71.4) | 17 (81) | 21 |
| Stage of the cancers | |||
| Stages 1–2 colon cancers | 17 (81) | 17 (81) | 21 |
| Stages 3–4 colon cancers | 15 (83.3) | 17 (94.4) | 18 |
| Lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract | Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test (%) | Guaiac-based faecal occult blood test (%) | |
| Location of the lesions | |||
| Overall | 261 (53.1) | 88 (17.9) | 492 |
| Stomach and duodenum lesions | 247 (59.4) | 72 (17.3) | 416 |
| Pharynx and oesophagus lesions | 14 (18.4) | 16 (21.1) | 76 |
| Location of the cancers | |||
| Overall | 41 (53.3) | 21 (27.3) | 77 |
| Gastric carcinoma | 31 (77.5) | 10 (25) | 40 |
| Pharynx and oesophagus cancers | 10 (27) | 11 (29.7) | 37 |
| Stage of upper gastrointestinal cancers | |||
| Stages 1–2 upper gastrointestinal cancers | 21 (75) | 5 (17.9) | 28 |
| Stages 3–4 upper gastrointestinal cancers | 20 (40.8) | 16 (32.7) | 49 |
The tumour stage was defined by the American Joint Committee on Cancer seventh edition.22
The colon above the level of the splenic flexure (including splenic flexure) was defined as the proximal colon. Synchronous lesions denoted concurrent proximal and distal lesions of colorectal neoplasms. When multiple lesions were present, participants were categorised according to the highest severity of lesions in the proximal and distal colon.
Note that those who had important lower gastrointestinal lesions have been excluded from the evaluation of test positivity for the upper gastrointestinal lesions. Also note that the majority (25/28, 89.3%) of stages 1–2 cancers were stomach cancers while the majority (34/49, 69.4%) of stages 3–4 cancers were pharynx or oesophagus cancers.