Clinical features that indicate increased risk of CRC
| CLINICAL FEATURE | MEDIAN PPV, % (RANGE) |
|---|---|
| Palpable rectal or abdominal mass | NA* |
| Rectal bleeding combined with weight loss | 13.0 (4.7–23) |
| Iron deficiency anemia | 11.0 (7.7–41) |
| Rectal bleeding mixed with stool | 11.0 (3.0–21) |
| Rectal bleeding in the absence of perianal symptoms | 10.8 (6.9–18) |
| Rectal bleeding combined with change in bowel habits | 10.5 (9.2–27) |
| Dark rectal bleeding | 9.7 (7.4–17) |
| Rectal bleeding and diarrhea | 9.0 (3.4–19) |
| Rectal bleeding and age ≥ 60 or ≥ 65 y | 8.6 (4.6–20) |
| Rectal bleeding and age ≥ 70 or ≥ 75 y | 7.9 (4.9–31) |
| Change in bowel habit or diarrhea | 7.5 (0.94–14) |
| Rectal bleeding and male | 7.5 (2.4–17) |
| Rectal bleeding and age ≥ 50 or ≥ 55 y | 5.9 (4–11) |
| Rectal bleeding (undefined) | 5.3 (2.2–16) |
| Rectal bleeding and abdominal pain | 5.1 (1.7–23) |
| Rectal bleeding, first episode | 5.0 (2.2–14) |
CRC—colorectal cancer, NA—not available, PPV—positive predictive value.
↵* Median not available; individual studies reported PPVs > 15%.