Colorectal Cancer: Colonoscopy and Follow Up

Abstract

Pelvic recurrence is a significant concern following curative resection for rectal cancer, regardless of the tumor’s origin of the rectum. In this retrospective observational study, 219 patients were analyzed, with 213 undergoing surgical treatment for rectal cancer at three surgical centers between 2014 and 2019. Surgical procedures included anterior resection with Hartmann’s procedure (39 patients), anterior resection of rectosigmoid with colorectal anastomosis (130 cases), and abdominoperineal resection (44 cases). After a 2-year follow-up, pelvic recurrence occurred in 19 patients, constituting approximately 8.9% of cases. The recurrence rates varied among surgical procedures, with a 15.38% recurrence rate after the Hartmann procedure, 9% after abdominoperineal resection, and 7% after anterior resection of rectosigmoid with colorectal anastomosis. Emphasize the high recurrence rates associated with advanced stages of rectal cancer. Notably, its follow-up was done clinically, by laboratory tests, colonoscopy (the main test for pelvic recurrence) after 6 months of surgery, 12 months, and 2 years, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and pelvic ultrasound at one year and 2 years, a lower recurrence rate being indicative of a successful curative surgical treatment. The Hartmann procedure, often performed as an emergency operation for locally advanced lesions, exhibited the highest recurrence rate.