The value of auditing negative lower GI investigations preceding a final diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

Objective: To review all preceding 'negative' large bowel investigations in patients with a final diagnosis of colorectal cancer, and to examine whether delayed diagnosis was associated with worse outcome.

Method: Details were gathered on all patients with a new diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma presenting over 4.5 years.

Anxieties should not be forgotten when screening relatives of colorectal cancer patients by colonoscopy.

Objective: Individuals with a strong family history have a high risk of developing colorectal cancer. They could well benefit from targeted screening and their increased risk warrants an invasive procedure such as colonoscopy. This study aims to assess the anxieties of symptom-free relatives offered screening by colonoscopy.

Laparoscopic or trephine faecal diversion: is there a preferred approach and why?

Background: Faecal diversion is often indicated in perineal sepsis and in the palliation of advanced ano-rectal malignancy. This can be performed open or laparoscopically. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of these two approaches to stoma creation.