[Value of colonoscopy in postoperative care of colorectal carcinoma]

From 1981 to 1986, fiberoptic colonoscopy was performed in 2225 patients, of whom 356 cases (16%) were operated on for colorectal carcinoma and followed up for three months to twenty years. 27 cases were detected to have a second primary cancer and 1 case third primary cancer. In addition, 1 case of carcinoid, 6 cases of in-situ cancers, and 77 cases of adenomas were found. Among the 138 asymptomatic cases, 8 were proved to have a second cancer and 6 to be in early stage. Among the remaining 218 symptomatic cases, 26 with second cancers and 10 in the early stage were detected. The study shows that periodic colonoscopic examinations are mandatory for asymptomatic postoperative patients.