Postoperative surveillance of colorectal carcinoma

Two-hundred-forty patients with previously resected colorectal carcinoma were investigated for neoplasia of six months, 12 months and then at yearly intervals during a four-year period. Physical examination, occult blood, rigid sigmoidoscopy, barium enema and colonoscopy were used during the surveillance. Out of 304 colonoscopies, 68 were positive for neoplasia, 11 metachronous, and 17 recurrent cancers with 66 tubular adenomas and nine villous adenomas were found. Barium enema detected 38% of the lesions. Occult blood in stood was positive in 18.5%. The results of the methods of surveillance are analyzed and the relative value of each method is discussed.