Patients undergoing clearing colonoscopy with resection of adenomas should
generally have their next examination at three years. Exceptions include la
rge sessile adenomas removed piecemeal (re-examine at two to six months unt
il no evidence of recurrent polyp, then at one year), average risk patients
with a single tubular adenoma (next examination at five years) and patient
s with 'numerous' adenomas (next examination at one or two years).
Patients with surgically resected colorectal cancer should have a clearing
colonoscopy preoperatively or within two to three months of surgery in obst
ructed patients, even if the preoperative barium enema is negative for prox
imal lesions. After the clearing colonoscopy, subsequent examinations can b
e performed based on the associated adenoma findings.