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Oncologic Effectiveness of Regular Follow-up to Detect Recurrence After Curative Resection of Gastric Cancer

  • Gastrointestinal Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

While clinicians routinely follow up gastric cancer patients after curative resection to detect recurrence, the effectiveness of regular follow-up has not been proven, and no consensus has been reached regarding follow-up programs.

Methods

Of the 1,767 patients who underwent curative resection for gastric cancer from 2001 to 2004, 310 (17.5%) developed recurrence during follow-up. The oncologic effectiveness of follow-up was evaluated using recurrence detection rates during follow-up and survivals. Clinicopathologic characteristics, the detection tools used, and times lapsed between recurrence and previous examinations were also investigated.

Results

Two hundred thirty-three (75.2%) of the 310 patients who developed recurrence were detected by regular follow-up (detected group). The frequencies of undifferentiated and diffuse-type recurrences were higher in patients with recurrence detected based on patient-initiated findings (undetected group) than in the detected group. Computed tomography and tumor markers were the first detection tools that yielded positive findings. Times between recurrence detection and previous examinations ranged from 2.8 to 5.3 months over the first 2 years. No difference in overall survival was found between the detected and undetected groups (log rank, P = 0.2).

Conclusions

The oncologic effectiveness of regular follow-up after curative resection for gastric cancer was found to be unsatisfactory. A large-scale randomized controlled trial is required to identify the effectiveness of regular follow-up in terms of its oncologic, functional, psychological, and economical aspects.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by grant 1010490-1 from the National Cancer Center, Republic of Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gastric Cancer Branch, Research Institute & Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

    Bang Wool Eom MD, Keun Won Ryu MD, PhD, Jun Ho Lee MD, PhD, Il Ju Choi MD, PhD, Myeong Cherl Kook MD, PhD, Soo Jeong Cho MD, PhD, Jong Yeul Lee MD, PhD, Chan Gyoo Kim MD, PhD, Sook Ryun Park MD, PhD, Jong Seok Lee MD & Young-Woo Kim MD, PhD

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  1. Bang Wool Eom MD
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  2. Keun Won Ryu MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Keun Won Ryu MD, PhD.

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Eom, B.W., Ryu, K.W., Lee, J.H. et al. Oncologic Effectiveness of Regular Follow-up to Detect Recurrence After Curative Resection of Gastric Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 18, 358–364 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-010-1395-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-010-1395-3

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