FOLLOW-UP OF PATIENTS AFTER RESECTION FOR COLORECTAL-CANCER - A POSITION-PAPER OF THE CANADIAN-SOCIETY-OF-SURGICAL-ONCOLOGY AND THE CANADIAN-SOCIETY-OF-COLON-AND-RECTAL-SURGEONS

OBJECTIVE: To provide recommendations for postoperative follow-up of p atients with colorectal carcinoma. OPTIONS: Postoperative follow-up su rveillance versus no surveillance. EVIDENCE: A MEDLINE search for arti cles published between 1966 and February 1996 with the terms ''colorec tal neoplasm'' and ''follow-up studies.'' Pertinent citations from ref erences of reviewed articles were also retrieved. METHODOLOGY: With th e evidence-based methodology of the Canadian Task Force on the Periodi c Health Examination, a thorough review of the value of postoperative follow-up for colorectal cancer patients was performed. Studies were c ategorized according to their study design and submitted to critical a ppraisal. Randomized trials, cohort studies and descriptive studies we re assessed, A benefit of follow-up was defined as an overall increase in survival. RECOMMENDATION: To date, there is insufficient evidence to make a recommendation on the benefit of postoperative surveillance in colorectal cancer patients, further clinical trials are needed to c larify the role of postoperative follow-up for patients after resectio n for colorectal cancer.