[Modalities and interest in followup of colorectal cancers after curative surgery]

Recurrence is found in 24 to 50% in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. The main purpose of follow-up is the screening of local or metastatic recurrence. Actually, the follow-up can not be justified only if there is a real advantage for the patient. Optimal modalities of surveillance of colorectal cancers resected have not been determined. The search of liver or lung metastases is actually preferred. The same pattern is used for searching colorectal lesions after a resection of colorectal cancer and after a polypectomy. The cost/effectiveness deontological value must be considered in the choice of further exams. However, the contribution of a cancerology follow-up is always controversial. Only prospective and randomized trials with a sufficient number of patients would prove the usefulness of a follow-up. In order to minimize the cost's problem, it is interesting to propose follow-up for a target population with a greater individual risk for recurrence.