INVESTIGATION, FOLLOW‐UP AND RECURRENCE AFTER RESECTION OF COLORECTAL CANCER

Abstract

A study was undertaken to determine the patterns of management in the 2 years following resection of colorectal cancer by Victorian surgeons. Patients were identified by the Victorian Cancer Register as having colorectal cancer diagnosed between 1 July and 31 December 1987. The surgeon of each of the 947 eligible patients who underwent surgery was sent a questionnaire seeking information about the pre‐operative investigation. type of surgery and subsequent line of referral. Only 16% of colonic cancers and 39% of rectal cancers were biopsied pre‐operatively and colonoscopy was undertaken in one‐half and one‐third respectively. Of the 737 responses, 555 patients were considered to have had cur..