Intensive follow up after surgery for colorectal cancer improves survival

Intensive follow up after colorectal cancer surgery is associated with a reduction in all cause mortality. A systematic review of five trials including 1342 patients by Renehan and colleagues (p 813) found a 9-13% reduction in mortality in trials that used computed tomography and frequent measurements of serum carcinoembryonic antigen to follow up patients. The authors conclude that this reduction is due to all recurrences of cancer, and particularly isolated recurrent disease, being detected early. This study counteracts the lack of direct evidence for intensive follow up after initial curative treatment for colorectal cancer.

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Relevant Article

Impact on survival of intensive follow up after curative resection for colorectal cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials

Andrew G Renehan, Matthias Egger, Mark P Saunders, and Sarah T O'Dwyer
BMJ 2002 324: 813. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]