Waiting times between referral to and performance of colonoscopy presented for several diagnostic clues
| Clues (n=634) | All patients (n=367) | Wait >60 days (n=178) | Wait <60 days (n=189) | p Value |
| Median wait in days | n (%) | |||
| Iron deficiency anaemia (n=47) | 14.0 | 14 (4.6) | 33 (9.9) | 0.01 |
| Faecal occult blood test positive (n=150) | 92.0 | 95 (31.5) | 55 (16.6) | <0.0001 |
| Abnormal CT scan (n=20) | 4.0 | 2 (0.7) | 18 (5.4) | 0.0006 |
| Suspected mass (n=11) | 10.0 | 1 (0.3) | 10 (3.0) | 0.01 |
| Haematochesia (n=100) | 75.0 | 58 (19.2) | 42 (12.7) | 0.02 |
| Constipation (n=14) | 36.5 | 5 (1.7) | 9 (2.7) | 0.37 |
| Abdominal pain (n=14) | 4.0 | 1 (0.3) | 13 (3.9) | 0.002 |
| Weight loss (n=15) | 31.0 | 4 (1.3) | 11 (3.3) | 0.10 |
| Melena (n=12) | 26.0 | 4 (1.3) | 8 (2.4) | 0.32 |
| History of polyps (n=26) | 221.0 | 21 (7.0) | 5 (1.5) | 0.0006 |
| Obstruction (n=22) | 0.0 | 1 (0.3) | 21 (6.3) | <0.0001 |
| Other lower GI symptoms (n=24) | 47.0 | 10 (3.3) | 14 (4.2) | 0.55 |
| Flex sigmoidoscopy positive (n=12) | 43.5 | 5 (1.7) | 7 (2.1) | 0.68 |
| Barium enema positive (n=24) | 16.5 | 6 (2.0) | 18 (5.4) | 0.02 |
| Colon cancer screening (n=23) | 203.0 | 18 (6.0) | 5 (1.5) | 0.003 |
| Anaemia (n=59) | 69.0 | 32 (10.6) | 27 (8.1) | 0.29 |
| Ileocolitis/fissure/Crohn disease (n=3) | 2.0 | 0 (0.0) | 3 (0.9) | 0.25 |
| Surgical indications (ano-rectal stricture, diverticulitis/abscess, etc.) (n=33) | 114.0 | 19 (6.3) | 14 (4.2) | 0.24 |
Data shown are for 367 patients diagnosed as having colorectal cancer in one tertiary care centre from June 2001 to June 2007.