What is surveillance of Patients with a History of Colon Polyps and Cancer?
Surveillance of patients with a history of colon polyps and cancer refers to the process of evaluating these patients at specific intervals to look for evidence of recurrence of the colon cancer or colon polyps.
Importance of Surveillance of Patients with a History of Colon Polyps and Cancer
Surveillance of patients with a history of colon polyps and cancer can help prevent recurrence of colon cancer by identifying precancerous lesions which can be removed before they transform into cancer. It can also help identify the new cancerous lesions in the colon at an early stage when they are easier to treat.
Procedure for Surveillance of Patients with a History of Colon Polyps and Cancer
Colonoscopy: It is an endoscopic procedure used to view the large intestine (colon and rectum) using an instrument called a colonoscope (a flexible tube with a small camera and lens attached at one end). Colonoscopy is performed under general anesthesia. The colonoscope is inserted into the rectum and gently moved up through the colon until it reaches the caecum (junction of small and large intestine). Colonoscopy provides an instant diagnosis and is more sensitive than X-rays. The colonoscope is then withdrawn very slowly as the camera shows pictures of the colon and rectum on a large screen. Polyps or growths can also be removed during the procedure which can be sent to the lab later for detection of cancer.
Guidelines for Surveillance of Patients with a History of Colon Polyps and Cancer
- For patients with a history of 1-2 colon polyps less than 1 cm in size, which have been completed removed, a colonoscopy is recommended every 5 years.
- For patients with a history of 3-4 colon polyps less than 1 cm in size or 1 colon polyp greater than 1 cm in size, which have been completed removed, a colonoscopy is recommended every 3 years.
- For patients with a history of 5 or more small colon polyps or 3 or more large colon polyp, which have been completed removed, a colonoscopy is recommended every year.
- If the colon polyp is not completely removed and biopsy results are negative, another colonoscopy is recommended in 6 months and every effort should be made to remove the colon polyp completely.
- For patients that have had a colon cancer lesion completely removed, a colonoscopy is recommended in one year and if the surveillance findings are negative, follow-up colonoscopies can be done every 3-5 years.