Table 1 Criteria to refer people using a suspected cancer pathway referral for CRC according to the NG12 referral criteria. The number of patients meeting each of the referral criteria is shown
Criteria | Number of patients (n = 1572) |
|---|---|
Patients ≥40 years with unexplained weight loss and abdominal pain | 196 (12.5%) |
Patients ≥50 years with unexplained rectal bleeding | 811 (51.6%) |
Patients ≥60 years with: iron–deficiency anaemia or changes in their bowel habit | 890 (56.7%) |
Patients with a rectal or abdominal mass | 80 (5.1%) |
Adults < 50 years with rectal bleeding and any of the following unexplained symptoms or findings: abdominal pain, change in bowel habit, weight loss or iron-deficiency anaemia. | 124 (7.9%) |
Offer testing for occult blood in faeces to assess for colorectal cancer in adults without rectal bleeding who but with unexplained symptoms that do not meet the criteria for a suspected cancer pathway referral A positive test for occult blood in faeces was considered if the haemoglobin concentration was ≥10 μg Hb/g faeces. | 78 (4.9%) |
Any of the referral criteria | 1479 (94.1%) |