Abstract
Purpose
We report a preliminary evaluation of the performance of computed tomography colonography (CTC) systematically obtained before optical colonoscopy (OC) in subjects with positive faecal occult blood test (FOBT) within a population-based screening programme for colorectal cancer (CRC).
Materials and methods
Seventy-nine subjects with positive FOBT from a regional screening programme were invited to perform same day CTC and OC. CTC was performed with standard bowel preparation. OC with segmental unblinding was the reference standard. A perpatient per-adenoma analysis was performed.
Results
Forty-nine of 79 subjects (62%) with positive FOBT adhered to the study and completed both examinations. Twenty-two (44.9%) of the 49 had a cancer or an adenoma ≥6 mm. Per-patient sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value and positive predictive value for cancer or adenoma ≥6 mm were 95.5% (95%CI:77.2%–99.9%), 51.9% (95%CI:32.0%–71.3%), 93.3% (95%CI:68.1%–99.8%) and 61.8% (95%CI:43.6%–77.8%).
Conclusions
In the setting of a FOBT-based screening programme for CRC, CTC showed a high sensitivity, but relatively low specificity and positive predictive value, for cancer and adenoma ≥6 mm. Probably performing CTC without faecal tagging as second line test after a positive FOBT is not a cost-effective strategy.
Riassunto
Obiettivo
Valutare la performance della colongrafia TC (CTC) eseguita sistematicamente prima della colonscopia ottica (CO) in soggetti con test del sangue occulto fecale (FOBT) positivo nell’ambito di un programma di screening di popolazione per il cancro colorettale.
Materiali e metodi
Settantanove soggetti FOBT positivi del programma di screening della regione Toscana sono stati invitati ad eseguire nello stesso giorno la CTC e la CO dopo preparazione intestinale standard (polietilenglicole). Come standard di riferimento è stata utilizzata la CO effettuata con la tecnica del “segmental unblinding”. Sono stati calcolati i valori di sensibilità, specificità, valore predittivo negativo (VPN) e positivo (VPP) per-paziente per-adenoma.
Risultati
Su 79 soggetti invitati 49 (62%) hanno accettato di partecipare allo studio. Ventidue soggetti (44,9%) su 49 hanno presentato un cancro o un adenoma ≥6 mm. I valori di sensibilità, specificità, VPN e VPP per-paziente nella detezione di cancri o adenomi ≥6 mm sono risultati rispettivamente del 95,5% (95%CI:77,2%‐99,9%), 51,9% (95%CI:32,0%–71,3%), 93,3% (95%CI:68,1%–99,8%) e del 61,8% (95%CI:43,6%–77,8%).
Conclusioni
Nel contesto di un programma di screening basato sul FOBT, la CTC ha mostrato elevata sensibilità ma bassi valori di specificità e valore predittivo positivo. Probabilmente utilizzare la CTC come test di secondo livello nei soggetti FOBT positivi non è una strategia costo-efficace.
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Sali, L., Falchini, M., Della Monica, P. et al. CT colonography before colonoscopy in subjects with positive faecal occult blood test. Preliminary experience. Radiol med 115, 1267–1278 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-010-0569-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-010-0569-1