Summary
51Cr studies of feces to determine the presence of occult blood have confirmed that small amounts of51Cr are present in the stools of normal healthy individuals. A volume representing as much as 3 ml of blood may be present in the stool of a normal person, and this probably is excreted in bile.
A loss of51Cr beyond this “normal” loss represents true blood loss, and this loss we have defined as “positive” occult blood.
Twelve patients with proven malignant lesions of the alimentary tract were investigated, and all 12 had “positive” occult blood in the stools passed. Similar studies of 33 patients with benign lesions of the alimentary tract which caused symptoms were made but only 11 of these had “positive” fecal occult blood. It is suggested that this investigation may help in determining whether a lesion in the alimentary tract is likely to be malignant, and it may also be of some value in screening for cancer.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ebaugh, F. G., Jr., T. Clemens, Jr., G. Rodnan, and R. E. Peterson: Quantitative measurement of gastrointestinal blood loss. I. The use of radioactive Cr51 with gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Amer. J. Med.25: 169, 1958.
Goulston, K., and A. Skyring: Effect of paracetamol (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol) on gastrointestinal bleeding. Gut5: 463, 1964.
Gray, S. J., and K. Sterling: The tagging of red cells and plasma proteins with radioactive chromium. J. Clin. Invest.29: 1604, 1950.
Holt, P. R.: Measurement of gastrointestinal blood loss in subjects taking aspirin. J. Lab. Clin. Med.56: 717, 1960.
Izak, G., Y. Stein, and A. Karshai: Quantitative determination of gastrointestinal bleeding using Cr51-labeled red blood cells. Amer. J. Dig. Dis.5: 24, 1960.
Kraintz, L., and R. V. Talmage: Distribution of radioactivity following intravenous administration of trivalent chromium51 in the rat and rabbit. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.81: 490, 1952.
Milverton, E. J., C. K. Hambly, F. O. Stephens, and E. Van der Ven: The value of chemical tests for occult blood in faeces. Med. J. Aust.2: 681, 1967.
Owen, C. A., Jr., J. L. Bollman, and J. H. Grindlay. Radiochromium-labeled erythrocytes for the detection of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. J. Lab. Clin. Med.44: 238, 1954.
Roche, M., M. E. Perez-Giminez, M. Layrisse, and E. Di Prisco: Study of urinary and fecal excretion of radioactive chromium51 in man; its use in the measurement of intestinal blood loss associated with hookworm infection. J. Clin. Invest.36: 1183, 1957.
Ross, G., and C. H. Gray: Assessment of routine tests for occult blood in faeces. Brit. Med. J.5394: 1351, 1964.
Stephens, F. O., and K. B. Lawrenson: Cr51 excretion in bile. Lancet1: 158, 1969.
Stephens, F. O., E. J. Milverton, C. K. Hambly, and E. K. Van der Ven: The effect of food in aspirin induced gastrointestinal blood loss. Digestion1: 267, 1968.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Stephens, F.O., Lawrenson, K.B. The pathologic significance of occult blood in feces. Dis Colon Rectum 13, 425–428 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02616786
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02616786