Screening for gastroenterological malignancies in new and maintenance dialysis patients

To screen for gastroenterological malignancies in dialysis patients, we use d the fecal occult blood test, examined the upper and lower gastrointestina l tract, and used abdominal ultrasonography in 178 patients starting dialys is (171 on hemodialysis and 7 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)) and 34 patients on maintenance dialysis (27 on hemodialysis and 7 o n CAPD). Screening disclosed ten cancers tone esophageal cancer, three gast ric cancers, four colorectal cancers, and two hepatocellular carcinomas) in 9 of the patients starting dialysis. Six cancers tone esophageal, three ga stric, one colorectal, and one renal) were detected in 5 of the patients on maintenance dialysis. Since an increased incidence of malignancy has been reported in dialysis patients, gastroenterological screening appears to be worthwhile.