[Colonoscopic follow-up of patients undergoing curative resection of colorectal cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of colonoscopy in the follow-up of patients undergoing curative resection of colorectal cancer.


METHODS
A prospective study was performed of 102 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgery with curative intention. Postoperative colonoscopic follow-up was a minimum of 5 years.


RESULTS
There were 62 males and 40 females. The mean duration of follow-up was 73.4 months. Synchronous polyps were found in 44.1% (114 in 45 patients) and metachronous polyps in 33.4% (64 in 34 patients). Synchronous carcinoma was detected in 7.8% (9 in 8 patients), metachronous carcinoma in 1.9% (2 in 2 patients) and suture recurrence in 4.9% (5 in 5 patients). Metachronous polyps developed in 55.5% of the patients with synchronous polyps and in only 15.8% of those with no synchronous polyps (p < 0.00005); the odds ratio was 6.67. Colonoscopy diagnosed 92 synchronous polyps and 64 metachronous polyps; of these, 34 were found to be significant(in 22 patients). Colonoscopy diagnosed 5 synchronous carcinomas; in 3 of these (polyps with non-invasive carcinoma) polypectomy constituted definitive therapy and in the remaining 2, curative resection was achieved. Colonoscopy diagnosed 2 stage C2 metachronous carcinomas at 63 and 94 months. Curative resection was achieved in both cases. Colonoscopic follow-up diagnosed 2 suture recurrences and resection was potentially curative.


CONCLUSIONS
Colonoscopy was found to play an essential role in 30% of the patients. The technique allowed the early diagnosis of synchronous carcinomas and curative treatment of metachronous carcinomas and demonstrated that the presence of synchronous polyps increases the risk of developing metachronous polyps.
Cuquerella
J
J
Servicio de Aparato Digestivo. Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Spain.
Ortí
E
E
Canelles
P
P
Martínez
M
M
Quiles
F
F
Sempere
J
J
Bixquert
M
M
Medina
E
E
D018256:Adenomatous Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007417:Intestinal Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies