Value of a follow-up study of recurrent carcinoma of the colon and rectum.

The results of our programmed follow-up study of patients with carcinoma of the colon and rectum have been disappointing. This is true also for those patients who have undergone resection with the intention of cure. This is mainly because of the discouraging results of our treatment of recurrent lesions. Chemotherapy or roentgen radiation has not regularly been used. The mean survival time has probably been prolonged in some single instances. Only three out of 36 are still alive. Oour negative results show that a follow-up study of this magnitude has been too extensive when the poor outcome is considered. We believe that a follow-up study of patients who have been operated upon for carcinoma of the colon and rectum is necessary but in a simpler form than we have done.