Follow-up after radical surgery for colorectal cancer. Design of a randomized study

The value of different follow-up examinations after radical surgery for colorectal cancer has not been proven. The risk of such programmes, including invasive examinations, may invalidate the possible benefit from early diagnosis of recurrent and metachronous cancer. The present trial is a randomized study, evaluating possible benefit from a very detailed programme compared to that of virtually no follow-up. The design is presented, but so far no more than 207 of the 600 patients wanted for trial, have been included. Differences in mortality rates, survival and morbidity will be evaluated and the influence of repeated polypectomy upon risk of metachronous colorectal cancer will also be estimated.