title: [Time to institute more active follow up after curative surgery for colorectal cancer? Wide variation of follow up and diagnostic routines].
abstract: There are still no large controlled studies that have proved any survival benefit with intensive follow-up after curative surgery for colorectal cancer. There is a wide variation in follow-up. Three meta-analysis have shown that intensive follow-up can improve survival, the most recent based on five previously published small controlled trials that compared intensive with control follow-up. Since the randomised studies were initiated, there have been a strong development of rectal cancer surgery and surgery for livermetastasis as well as for adjuvant and palliative oncologic treatments. This development gives support to a more active attitude towards intensive regular follow-up. An active follow-up should be selective and only include patients who tolerate oncologic or surgical treatment. Diagnostic tests to find intraluminal recurrence are ineffective. Large multicenter studies are still warranted.
authors.affiliation: Kolorektalsektionen, kirurgkliniken, Centrallasarettet i Västerås. kennet.smedh@ltvastmanland.se
authors.forename: Kennet
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smedh
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis; D012041:Regional Medical Programs
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen