[Follow-up after rectal cancer treatment]

Abstract

Along with the surgeon, the gastroenterologist and the general practitioner, the radiation oncologist is involved in the follow-up of patients with rectal cancer treated by radiation. Post-treatment follow-up is recommended by major professional expert groups and consists of clinical examination, monitoring of carcinoembryonic antigen, colonoscopy and computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis. Three recent large phase III randomized trials demonstrated a lack of survival benefit from intensive follow-up strategies in comparison with minimal follow-up. However, a follow-up program is not only important for the detection of an early disease relapse but it can be also used for the identification and the management of long-term toxicity and sequalae related to rectal cancer treatment.

Keywords: Cancer; Follow-up; Radiotherapy; Radiothérapie; Rectal; Rectum; Surveillance.