Follow-up strategy after curative resection of gastric cancer: a nationwide survey in Korea.
BACKGROUND
To date, guidelines for follow-up after curative resection in patients with gastric cancer have not been reported. Thus, most centers have managed the process according to institution-specific protocols. We investigated current follow-up practices after curative resection of gastric cancer using a nationwide survey in Korea, where gastric cancer is epidemic.


METHODS
From July to September 2007, questionnaires were sent out to 205 members of the Korean Gastric Cancer Association (KGCA). The questionnaire packet contained a covering letter, general information, and a questionnaire about follow-up schedules and methodologies.


RESULTS
Forty-six percent (96/205) of the members of the KGCA returned the survey. The majority of responders indicated that patients with early gastric cancer were followed up every 6 months (64.4%) for the first year, every 12 months (47.9%) for the next 4 years, and every 12 months (68.8%) from the fifth year after surgery on. For patients with advanced gastric cancer, follow-up studies were carried out every 3 months (43.8%) for the first year, every 6 months for the next 4 years, and every 12 months (75.0%) from the fifth year onward. After surgery, most responders used computed tomography for imaging, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA)19-9 as tumor markers, and serum iron among follow-up measures.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians have a variety of approaches regarding the extent of follow-up and methodologies used after curative resection for gastric cancer. Therefore, a multicenter randomized trial will be needed to compare routine follow-up with intensive schedules. Our results could facilitate the design of such studies.
Department of Surgery, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Hoon
H
Hur
Kyo Young
KY
Song
Cho Hyun
CH
Park
Hae Myung
HM
Jeon
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor