Fecal Blood Loss in Patients With Colonic Polyps: A Comparison of Measurements With 51Chromium-Labeled Erythrocytes and With the Haemoccult Test

Abstract The quantitative determinations of fecal daily blood loss after intravenous administration of 51Cr-labeled erythrocytes in 44 patients with colonic polyps and in 11 controls were compared with the results of the daily performed Haemoccult test without dietary restrictions. A total of 642 stool specimens was analyzed for 51Cr loss and the Haemoccult test. The mean fecal daily blood loss in the 34 patients with adenomatous polyps of the descending colon and rectosigmoid was 1.36 ± 0.14 ml/day (mean ± SEM), in the 10 patients with polyps of the ascending and transverse colon it was 1.28 ± 0.31 ml/day, and in the 11 controls 0.62 ± 0.07 ml/day. There was no positive Haemoccult test in …