Faecal occult blood test-based screening programme with high compliance for colonoscopy has a strong clinical impact on colorectal cancer.

Background: The results of a pilot colorectal cancer screening programme by biennial immunochemical faecal occult blood test (FOBT) are reported.

Methods: All residents aged between 50 and 69 years in the Italian province of Lecco were invited to have a FOBT. Those with a positive result were offered colonoscopy.