Granqvist S, Karlsson T
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden.
Eur J Surg. 1992 May;158(5):307-12.
To find out if colonoscopy is of use in the follow-up of patients who have been operated on for colorectal carcinoma.
Retrospective study.
Department of diagnostic radiology, university hospital.
390 consecutive patients operated on for colorectal carcinoma during the 10-year period 1981 to 1990.
Number of recurrences, synchronous of metachronous tumours, and number and size of adenomas found on colonoscopy.
Neoplastic lesions were found in 175 (45%) of the 390 patients studied. There were 14 anastomotic recurrences and 12 new primary carcinomas. At operation for recurrent tumours Dukes' A or B lesions were found in half of the 14 patients who had no symptoms, and a quarter of the 12 who had had symptoms. Those with recurrent carcinoma were younger than those without. Adenomas 1 cm in diameter or more were found in 44 patients and 104 had adenomas less than 1 cm. In addition one carcinoid was found.
Colonoscopy gave a high yield of neoplastic lesions when used to follow-up patients after resection of colorectal carcinoma, particularly at six months, and resulted in half the recurrent carcinomas being diagnosed before the patients had symptoms. We recommend its use for follow-up of high risk patients, but further studies are needed to establish the optimum time intervals.
