Review article: The relevance of surveillance endoscopy in long-lasting inflammatory bowel disease

Development of colitis-associated colorectal cancer is an important clinical problem in patients with colonic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). British and American guidelines recommend to start surveillance after a disease duration of 8-10 or 15-20 years for patients with extensive or left-sided colitis, respectively.

To assess the evidence level of current surveillance strategies.

A PubMed-based literature search using the search terms inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, dysplasia, colorectal cancer and surveillance was performed.

Low-grade and high-grade dysplastic lesions progress to cancer in a high percentage of patients. Furthermore, concurrent cancer is found in approximately one-third of the patients with colonic dysplasia. Low-level evidence showing reduced colorectal cancer-related mortality in patients who were undergoing surveillance is available. Patients with concomitant primary sclerosing cholangitis form a subgroup of IBD patients with an even higher risk of colorectal neoplasia.

Colonic surveillance prolongs life expectancy of patients with long-lasting IBD.