[Effectiveness of after-care in colonic cancer]

52% of recurrences of the group with regular check-up after curative surgery for colonic carcinoma were diagnosed within the first postoperative year compared to 38% of the patients without medical control. Diagnosis of recurrent disease was made in 75% during a regular check-up, i.e. in state of asymptomatic relapse. Patients without postoperative control attended a physician in 96% because of symptomatic recurrence. 31% of the controlled group were free of lymph node involvement or metastases at the time of secondary procedure as compared to 20% of the group without check-up. 37% of secondary operations could be performed curatively for the patients with examinations compared to 17% of the patients without control. Five-year-survival-rate after secondary procedure was 11% for the group with check-up and 0% for the patients without control. Therefore the high personal, financial and temporal expense and the handicap of patients by a regular postoperative check-up seems justified in case of colonic carcinoma.