Table 5 The diagnostic role of clinical examination, laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures, performed or ordered by a general practitioner (GP), in colorectal cancer. Number of patients where these had diagnostic importance. Cohort study with 61,802 patients in primary care (2011–12)
Colon cancer (n = 65) | Proximal location (n = 18) | Distal location (n = 26) | Unspecified (n = 21) | Rectal cancer (n = 29) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clinical examination | |||||
Abdominal examination | 19 (29.2%) | 4 (22.2%) | 7 (26.9%) | 8 (38.1%) | 10 (34.5%) |
Digital rectal examination | 13 (20.0%) | 1 (5.6%) | 7 (26.9%) | 5 (23.8%) | 11 (37.9%) |
Gynecological examination | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
Proctoscopy/sigmoidoscopy | 10 (15.4%) | 1 (5.6%) | 6 (23.1%) | 3 (14.3%) | 5 (17.2%) |
Other examination | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | |
No diagnostic contribution from clinical examination | 29 (44.6%) | 11 (61.1%) | 10 (38.5%) | 8 (38.1%) | 10 (34.5%) |
Missing | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Laboratory tests | |||||
Haemoglobin concentration | 17 (26.2%) | 5 (27.8%) | 5 (19.2%) | 7 (33.3%) | 2 (6.9%) |
Erythrocyte Sedimentation rate | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |
C-Reactive Protein | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Test for occult blood in stool | 17 (26.2%) | 1 (5.6%) | 8 (30.8%) | 8 (38.1%) | 4 (13.8%) |
Cervical cytology | 0 | 0 | |||
Prostate Specific Antigen | 0 | 0 | |||
Urinary examination | 0 | 0 | |||
Other | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||
No diagnostic contribution from laboratory tests | 29 (44.6%) | 10 (55.6%) | 13 (50.0%) | 6 (28.6%) | 18 (62.1%) |
Missing | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Diagnostic procedures | |||||
X-ray | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Ultrasound | 2 | 2 | 1 | ||
Computer tomography | 20 (30.8%) | 7 (38.9%) | 6 (23.1%) | 7 (33.3%) | 5 (17.2%) |
Magnetic resonance | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
Upper GI Endoscopy | 0 | 0 | |||
Coloscopy | 47 (72.3%) | 13 (72.2%) | 19 (73.1%) | 15 (71.4%) | 20 (69.0%) |
Cystoscopy | 0 | 0 | |||
Other | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
None of the above procedures | 6 (9.2%) | 2 (11.1%) | 3 (11.5%) | 1 (4.8%) | 1 (3.4%) |
Missing | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |