Abstract
By definition, occult gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is hidden
and not apparent on stool inspection. It occurs commonly, but
a test is required for its detection. Elevated fecal blood levels
are found in about 1 in 20 adults on prevalence screens [1–4]
and probably occur episodically in all persons. Although often
trivial, occult GI bleeding may herald a health-threatening
lesion arising at any level from mouth to rectum. As such, the
clinician is challenged when faced with occult GI bleeding.
and not apparent on stool inspection. It occurs commonly, but
a test is required for its detection. Elevated fecal blood levels
are found in about 1 in 20 adults on prevalence screens [1–4]
and probably occur episodically in all persons. Although often
trivial, occult GI bleeding may herald a health-threatening
lesion arising at any level from mouth to rectum. As such, the
clinician is challenged when faced with occult GI bleeding.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Principles of Clinical Gastroenterology |
| Editors | Tadataka Yamada, David H. Alpers, Anthony N. Kalloo, Neil Kaplowitz, Chung Owyang, Don W. Powell |
| Place of Publication | Oxford, UK |
| Publisher | Blackwell Publishing |
| Chapter | 9 |
| Pages | 152-169 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780781728614 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2008 |
Keywords
- gastrointestinal
- bleeding
- fecal blood
- Fecal occult blood
- iron deficiency
- Fecal blood