Follow-up: does it work? Can we afford it?
Follow-up of patients with colorectal cancer has been controversial. This is largely because studies have been small and inadequate to assess results. A recently performed meta-analysis confirms a very significant benefit to the follow-up of patients following curative resection of colorectal cancer. This article outlines the rationale and cost-effectiveness of a follow-up policy.
Beart
R W
RW
Department of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. rbeart@hsc.usc.edu
D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome