title: [The value of routine check-ups of patients after radical surgery of colonic cancer or rectal cancer].
abstract: In this retrospective study, the efficiency of the postoperative follow-up regimen was evaluated in patients, radically operated for cancer of the colon or cancer of the rectum. The follow-up regimen consisted of clinical examination, including sigmoidoscopy every six months, supplemented by an X-ray of the colon every year. Two-hundred and eighty-nine patients were included in the study. Twenty-three local recurrences and 19 new malignant tumors were diagnosed 20 and 13 months (mean) after the primary operation, respectively. About one third of the local recurrences and half of the new malignant tumors were diagnosed at the planned follow-ups. Among these patients, a significantly higher success rate as regards radical operation was observed at the second operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  more frequent follow-ups during the first two years after the primary operation are recommended in order to improve early diagnosis.
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Clausen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Erichsen
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Friis
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
vernacular_title: Vaerdien af rutinemaessig postoperativ kontrol efter radikal operation for cancer coli eller cancer recti.