Colorectal cancer screening characteristics of patients presenting with symptoms of colorectal cancer and effect on clinical outcomes

Introduction National colorectal cancer screening, utilising a faecal occult blood test (FOBT), is now well established in the UK. The aim of this study was to define the screening characteristics of patients presenting to secondary care with symptoms of colorectal cancer and to assess the effect of screening outcome on subsequent symptomatic presentation. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of all patients of screening age presenting within one calendar year in a tertiary trust via a two-week wait (2WW) pathway owing to suspicion of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer related outcomes were compared between patients in the cohort who had previously accepted bowel cancer screening and patients who had previously declined bowel cancer screening. The primary endpoint was overall incidence of colorectal neoplasia. Secondary endpoints included incidence of colorectal malignancy, cancer related mortality, cancer related outcomes and polyp related outcomes. Results Overall, 2,227 patients presented via th...