[Follow up in carcinoma of the large intestine]

Abstract

A valid program of follow-up has always been a crucial point in the overall therapy of the colon-cancer. In this retrospective study, the authors have used as specimen 74 patients put under observation between the years 1987 and 1992. The patient have been followed throughout the diagnostic period with various methods. It has been the will of the authors, who have presented their protocol of reference, to put under comparison the various controlling methods in order to visualize their reliability, specificity and the indication of each one of them. The CEA is the most sensible haemanalysis for lifting the doubt of recidivation. As for the TAC and ultrasound it has been reserved the job of formulating a correct diagnosis; the results of both diagnostics through imagery have been more or less the same. However, the ultrasound examination have shown more false positives than the TAC. The research of the blood occult in the stool is a rapid and economic detection in the case of intramural recidivations, even if we cannot disregard the share of false positives. A high specificity for the study of intramural recidivations has been offered by the endoscopic scan particularly when associated by a brushing and biopsy.