Comparison of Findings From Fecal Occult Blood Test and Esophagogastroduodenoscopy With Histopathology Among Symptomatic Saudi Adults: A Retrospective Study

Background A fecal occult blood test is an established way to detect blood in stool samples. However, this diagnostic test is prone to false positives and false negatives, not to mention misuse and misinterpretation of results. In this study, we aimed to compare relevant findings among three diagnostic tests: a fecal occult blood test, an esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and histopathology. Methods This study used a retrospective analysis of 74 patients' electronic medical records from September 2021 to September 2022 at the Human Clinic and Gastroenterology Specialized Clinic in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Symptomatic adult Saudi patients who underwent a fecal occult blood test, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and histopathology were included in the study. Results A total of 74 patients with a mean age of 43.76 ± 15.1 years were analyzed. More than half of the patients were men (63.5%). Eighteen (18) individuals tested positive through a fecal occult blood test, and 49 individuals showed a positive finding under esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Furthermore, statistical analyses revealed a significant correlation between fecal occult blood test outcomes and histopathological outcomes (p = 0.001). Conclusion A significant proportion of the sample population presented a false negative result under the fecal occult blood test. This emphasizes the importance of confirmatory endoscopic procedures and subsequent histopathology in the diagnosis of abnormalities in the upper gastrointestinal tract.