title: Follow-up of patients resected for gastric cancer.
abstract: In this study we used a cost-outcome analysis to evaluate our follow-up protocol for patients who had been resected for gastric cancer. We designed a descriptive cross-sectional trial through consecutive sampling of patients who had undergone resection of gastric carcinoma and were followed in our outpatient department during 1991. Serological (CEA) and or imaging procedures were pathologic at least two months prior to the onset of symptoms in 33% of recurrences. No significant correlation was found between serum CEA levels and CEA tumor tissue staining in patients who recurred. Only 17% of patients who relapsed underwent further treatment (surgery and chemotherapy) with no improvement found in terms of survival. The overall cost per year has been estimated at US$ 6118. Our results show that serological levels of CEA and available imaging techniques for routine follow-up provide little advantage in diagnosing gastric cancer recurrence over clinical surveillance alone.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen