| Sumario: | Although fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) has long been considered the simplest and best screening test for colon cancer, up to 60% of results are false-negative and up to 30% are false-positive. The authors question the validity of a test that can so easily be affected by sampling errors, diet, and medications. They conclude that FOBT cannot be recommended for screening. Unfortunately, they know of no other test to take its place. The pros and cons of other screening tests -- rectal examination, sigmoidoscopy, x-ray examination with double contrast barium enema, and colonoscopy -- are also considered.
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