Follow-up after colorectal polypectomy. II. Repeated examinations of the colon every 6 months after removal of sessile adenomas and adenomas with the highest degrees of dysplasia.

Fifty-five patients with colorectal sessile adenomas and adenomas with the severest dysplasia were followed up every 6 months with colonoscopy and/or double-contrast enema during 4 years, after a clean colon had been obtained, by repeated colonoscopy within 3 months after piecemeal polypectomy. The repetition at 3 months resulted in detection of two cancers. An overlooked cancer was detected at 1 year, and another cancer was diagnosed between examinations. Risk of new adenomas (19 patients) was related to original size, number, and glandular structure of the polyps. Twelve of the 19 patients had new polyps above the rectum. The 336 colonoscopies were complicated by 3 laparotomies, made necessary by perforation and bleeding. The results suggest that intervals between examinations of patients with the present type of adenomas may be prolonged, and patients are now allocated at random to colorectal follow-up examination every 6 and 12 months.

The remaining colon after radical surgery for colorectal cancer. The first three years of a prospective study.

This study investigates the possible gain and limitation by performing colonoscopy and double-contrast enema immediately after, and every six months after, radical surgery for colorectal cancer. It was possible to perform a complete colonoscopy within three months of surgery in 80 per cent of the 239 patients and at the follow-up time in 90 per cent. Incompleteness was related to insufficient bowel preparation, narrow anastomosis, and long transverse colon. Five patients had synchronous cancers, and 64 had adenomas at the time of surgery. The risk of recurrent adenomas in the latter was higher (17/64) than in those without adenomas (15/175). The adenomas were located above the rectum in 57 of 80 patients who had polypectomy. Four patients with metachronous cancer and one of five patients with local recurrence had another radical operation, while this was possible in none of 40 patients with recurrence diagnosed by other means than colonoscopy and enema. Radical colorectal surgery should be followed by colonoscopy and double-contrast enema, but how often and for how long remains to be established.

A prospective, partly randomized study of the effectiveness of repeated examination of the colon after polypectomy and radical surgery for cancer.

Results of 629 colonoscopies and 130 double-contrast examinations, performed during the first 2 years of a prospective, partly randomized cancer prophylactic programme, are reported. The patients were not more than 75 years old and had no previous diagnosis of adenoma or cancer. Repeated colonoscopy 3 months after polypectomy in 80 patients increased the chance of obtaining a complete colonoscopy from 70% to 86%, and the hepatic flexure was reached in a further 9%. Thirteen had polypectomy during the second colonoscopy. The gain in number of patients with adenomas was highest in those with sessile villous adenomas, carcinoma in situ, and mucosal carcinoma. Repeated colorectal examinations every 6 months in these resulted in recurrence rates of 13 of 33, 3 of 23, and 2 of 15 (18 months), respectively. The same figures for patients with stalked polyps, allocated to examination every 6 months, were 3 of 34, 1 of 21, and 2 of 14. Colonoscopy was also performed within 3 months of radical surgery for colorectal cancer, and 35 of 142 patients had polypectomy. Repeated examinations every 6 months resulted in recurrence rates for adenomas of 11 of 85, 3 of 46, and 1 of 34. One new cancer after 12 months could be treated radically. Five uncomplicated laparotomies were performed after the 629 colonoscopies because of perforation or bleeding.