Abstract
Background/Aims: This investigation aimed to estimate the value of regular follow-up programs after curative resection for colorectal cancer. Methodology: We compared the recurrence rate, rate of curative re-resection, and survival rate between groups who had either regular or irregular follow-up. The medical records of 397 consecutive patients, who underwent a curative resection for colorectal cancer between January 1994 and December 1997, were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The recurrence rate was 19.4% and 20.8% in the regular and irregular follow-up groups (P>0.05), respectively. There was a significant difference in the asymptomatic recurrence rate (62.9 vs. 18.7 %; P=0.021), but curative re-resection was possible in 18 (29.0%) of those patients with cancer recurrence in the regular follow-up group, and in 2 (12.5%) in the irregular follow-up group, which was not significantly different (P>0.05). 5-year survival rate between the groups was not significantly different (78.1 vs. 61.2%; P>0.05). Conclusions: A regular follow-up program after a curative resection for colorectal cancer, although facilitating detection of recurrence before symptoms developed, was unlikely to succeed in increasing the rate of a curative intent re-resection and survival remarkably.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 63-66 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Hepato-gastroenterology |
Volume | 54 |
Issue number | 73 |
Publication status | Published - 2007 Jan |
Keywords
- Colorectal cancer
- Regular follow-up
- Survival benefit
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hepatology
- Gastroenterology