[Can the prognosis of patients treated surgically in cancer of the rectum or colon be improved by follow-up? Prospective study of 909 patients].

Outpatient follow up may be performed to detect early recurrence or metastasis in the hope to be cured by further surgery. 909 patients have been prospectively followed after resection for cure of colorectal carcinoma. The mean duration of this follow up was 48 months. 1. Only 322 (35.4%) patients agreed to be submitted to an strict regiment of frequent check up. 2. Only 92 recurrences were diagnosed at times of follow up, the 308 others were discovered between regular follow up examination. 3. Only 32 recurrences out of 92 detected by the follow up schedule were totally without symptoms. 4. In the follow up group 30 patients (32.6%) benefited from second surgery versus 7 for the others (7.8%) p less than 0.001. 5. The comparison about the five years actuarial survival rates between the follow up group and the others is statistically significant: p less than 0.01.