[Long-term surveillance of patients operated on for colorectal cancers]

Patients who have undergone curative surgical treatment for colo-rectal cancer require long term follow-up in order to detect polyps or new neoplastic colo-rectal lesions and any signs of metastases or loco-regional recurrence. In this way, it is possible to prevent the development of new colo-rectal cancers by means of polypectomy. Furthermore, early detection of recurrence of the initial neoplasm appears to be effective, provided that the patients are followed rigorously and that the recurrence is detected at a stage at which re-operation can ensure long term survival.