Diagnosis of colon cancer by lavage cytology with an orally administered balanced electrolyte solution.

Objective: We wished to evaluate the feasibility of colon lavage cytology using an orally administered balanced electrolyte solution.

Methods: Thirty-three patients undergoing colonoscopy for suspected colorectal cancer were entered into the study. Fifteen of these patients eventually had pathological confirmation of colorectal cancer, and one patient had prostatic adenocarcinoma with invasion of the rectum.

Fatal complications related to diagnostic barium enema.

Thousands of barium enemas are performed in the United States each year without incident. Occasionally complications arise, only a few of which are fatal. Perforation is the most frequent serious complication of this procedure.

Balloon cytology in screening of asymptomatic alcoholics for esophageal cancer, Part I.

We assessed the feasibility of using balloon cytology to screen an asymptomatic group of alcoholics at increased risk for esophageal cancer. The results indicate that this group can be studied with minimal morbidity and that useful material can be obtained in 85% of subjects. Keratinization was present in 68% of specimens and fungus was noted in 9%.