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PubMed2004

Carotenoids, vitamin A and risk of adenomatous polyp recurrence in the polyp prevention trial.

One trial reported beta-carotene supplementation was protective of adenomatous polyp recurrence in nonsmokers. We now examine the relation of serum and dietary carotenoids and vitamin A to adenomatous polyp recurrence in a subcohort of 834 participants in a low fat, high fiber, high fruit and vegetable dietary intervention, the Polyp Prevention Trial. Multivariate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of polyp recurrence were obtained using baseline or the average (first 3 years of the trial) carotenoid and vitamin A values after adjustment for covariates. Compared to the lowest quartile of baseline alpha-carotene concentrations, the OR of multiple polyp recurrence for the highest quartile was 0.55 (95% CI = 0.30-0.99) and the OR of right-sided recurrence was 0.60 (95% CI = 0.37-0.95). Baseline dietary intakes of alpha-carotene and vitamin A from food with/without supplements were inversely associated with any recurrence (p for linear trend = 0.03-alpha-carotene; p = 0.004 and p = 0.007 -intakes of vitamin A). Compared to the lowest quartile of averaged beta-carotene concentrations, the OR of multiple adenomas for the highest quartile was 0.40 (95% CI = 0.22-0.75) with an inverse trend (p = 0.02). The risk was inversely related to averaged: alpha-carotene concentrations and right-sided polyps; alpha-carotene intake and recurrence of any, multiple and right-sided polyps; beta-carotene intake and multiple adenoma recurrence; vitamin A from food (with supplements) and each adverse endpoint. Thus, alpha-carotene and vitamin A may protect against recurrence in nonsmokers and nondrinkers or be indicative of compliance or another healthy lifestyle factor that reduces risk.

Adenomatous Polyps↗

PubMed1989

Local recurrence after curative resection of rectal cancer: a comparison of low anterior resection and abdominoperineal resection.

Local recurrence rates after either low anterior resection or abdominoperineal resection were compared in 109 patients undergoing curative surgery for adenocarcinoma of the rectum between 1979 and 1984. Follow-up information was available for 99 patients (91%). The overall recurrence rate was 19%; ten recurrences (26.3%) for low anterior resections and nine (14.7%) for abdominoperineal resections. (P less than .08). Recurrences were confirmed by biopsy or at reoperation. No significant difference in size of the lesion was evident at initial resection (average largest dimension 4.8 cm for low anterior and 5.5 cm for abdominoperineal resection). The average time to recurrence after resection was 18 months (16.5 months in the low anterior group vs. 19 months in the abdominoperineal group). Mean survival after recurrence was shorter for the abdominoperineal (3.4 months) as compared to the low anterior group (9.5 months) (P = .10). The overall median survival was 21 months (range 0-75 months) in both groups, and 38 patients were alive. Risk factors for recurrence were Dukes C lesions in patients who had a low anterior resection (8/18 or 44% recurrence) and poor histologic differentiation in patients who had either operation (3/6 or 50% recurrence).

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1990

Stomal recurrence: a separate entity?

Uncertainty exists concerning the exact aetiology of stomal recurrence following laryngectomy, although it is generally agreed that, when present, the prognosis is very poor. Fourteen cases of stomal recurrence were compared with 15 cases of other types of aggressive recurrence in the neck, for factors implicated in stomal recurrence. Similarities exist between the two groups and, although stomal recurrence has a greater association with subglottic tumour, this difference is not statistically significant. The possible mechanisms of recurrence are discussed, particularly in relation to aggressiveness, and it is concluded that factors involved in aggressive recurrences are similar. Stomal recurrence can be considered part of a group of aggressive neck recurrences associated with more advanced disease prior to laryngectomy.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

PubMed1992

Chest wall resection for locally recurrent breast cancer: indications, technique, and results.

A series of 100 patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the breast was analyzed for chest wall recurrence alone after primary treatment. Five patients were found to have had chest wall recurrence alone and were treated with en bloc chest wall resection. This group of patients was analyzed for the pathophysiology of recurrence including characteristics of the primary tumor, location of the chest wall recurrence, and overall local salvage and survival after chest wall recurrence. In this series, local recurrence after radical chest wall resection was 20%. The incidence of systemic recurrence after chest wall resection was 60%. The mean survival for the entire group was 17 months after chest wall recurrence and radical resection. The main surgical objectives, including relief from painful, inflammatory, and bleeding complications, were achieved in all patients after chest wall resection. Although patients with isolated chest wall recurrence included a highly selected group, chest wall resection with myocutaneous reconstruction may provide long-term disease-free survival for these patients.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Recurrence of autoimmune liver disease after liver transplantation: a systematic review.

Recurrence of autoimmune liver disease in allografts has long been a topic of debate. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to examine the reported incidence of recurrence after liver transplantation of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane electronic databases were used to identify articles. The inclusion criteria used were articles on patients with at least 90 days of posttransplantation follow-up, histologic criteria for diagnosis of PBC and AIH recurrence, radiologic or histologic criteria or both for diagnosis of PSC recurrence, and exclusion of other causes of liver disease causing similar histologic findings. Incidence in individual studies was combined to calculate the overall recurrence. Risk factors were analyzed whenever crude data were available. Funnel plots were used to assess publication bias. Out of 90 articles identified, 43 met criteria for systematic review (PBC, 16; PSC, 14; AIH, 13). The calculated weighted recurrence rate was 18% for PBC, 11% for PSC, and 22% for AIH. No difference was found in PBC and AIH recurrence by type of primary immunosuppression. There were not enough data to assess this issue in PSC studies. There was evidence of publication bias among PSC and AIH studies but not among PBC studies. In conclusion, recurrence of autoimmune liver disease after liver transplantation appears to be a real concern. As these patients are followed long-term, recurrence of disease may become the primary cause of morbidity.

Autoimmune Diseases↗

PubMed1997

Comparison of histopathology in acute allograft rejection and recurrent hepatitis C infection after liver transplantation.

Recurrent hepatitis C infection after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is frequent and may occur as early as a few weeks postoperatively. Early histopathological features of recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may be modified by immunosuppressive therapy and can be difficult to differentiate from acute allograft rejection (AAR). Thus, we retrospectively compared histopathological features of liver biopsy specimens from two carefully selected patient groups: one with unequivocal recurrent hepatitis C, the other with unequivocal AAR. Index biopsy specimens obtained at the time of the appearance of liver test abnormalities after OLT and all serial liver biopsy specimens (2 to 13 per patient) were assessed under code and scored semiquantitatively for 44 histopathological variables. The index biopsy specimens from patients with recurrent HCV infection and AAR index biopsies (AAR-Ib) differed significantly (P < .05) for 11 features (10 features were statistically associated with AAR and 1 with early recurrence of HCV infection). Statistically significant features associated with AAR included bile duct injury with overlapping nuclei, lymphocytic infiltrates and necrosis, endothelialitis, portal inflammatory infiltrates containing eosinophils and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, hepatocyte mitoses, and zone 3 canalicular cholestasis. In contrast, the only statistically significant feature associated with early recurrent HCV was sinusoidal dilatation. Stepwise discriminant analysis showed that the presence of eosinophils in the portal inflammatory infiltrate, bile duct necrosis, and bile duct lymphocytic infiltrates were independently associated with AAR. However, serial biopsy specimens from patients with recurrent HCV infection showed statistically significant progression in scores for portal inflammation, portal lymphoid aggregates, and lobular inflammation. We conclude that (1) multiple histopathological features are associated with AAR; (2) early recurrent HCV infection is characterized by elevated alanine aminotransferase levels, positive HCV RNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and absence of diagnostic histopathological features; and (3) serial biopsies are needed to demonstrate progression of histopathological features of recurrent hepatitis C.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2006

Temozolomide and oral VP-16 for children and young adults with recurrent or treatment-induced malignant gliomas.

BACKGROUND: Children and young adults with recurrent or treatment-induced malignant gliomas have limited responses to temozolomide or oral VP-16 when either is administered as a single agent. We postulated that a combination of these two drugs for patients with recurrent or treatment-induced malignant gliomas might result in better and more prolonged responses. A retrospective analysis was performed on patients treated with the combination of temozolomide and VP-16. PROCEDURE: Eleven patients with recurrent or treatment-induced malignant gliomas were treated with varying combinations of temozolomide (150-210 mg/m2/d for 5 days) and oral VP-16 (50 mg/m2/d for 4-12 days). Responses were assessed by MRI scan, and data on clinical course and toxicity were retrospectively obtained from the medical record. RESULTS: The median age of the 11 patients was 17 years (range 5-23 years). Diagnoses included recurrent brain stem glioma (2), recurrent anaplastic astrocytoma (2), and glioblastoma (7) (3 treatment-induced, 2 malignant transformations of lower grade tumors, 1 recurrence, and 1 second tumor arising 10 months after diagnosis of medulloblastoma). All 11 patients had received radiotherapy (including 4 who received craniospinal radiation), and 7 had prior chemotherapy. Nine patients were treated at first recurrence, two at second recurrence. One patient had a complete response (CR), six had partial responses (PR), and four had progressive disease (PD). The median progression-free survival for the seven responding patients was 6 months (range 4-15+ months). There was one grade 4 neutropenia, but no other grade 3 or 4 toxicities. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest there is activity of temozolomide in combination with oral VP-16 for children and young adults with recurrent malignant gliomas.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2000

Persistence of human papillomavirus infection after therapeutic conization for CIN 3: is it an alarm for disease recurrence?

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were (1) to examine whether HPV DNA is persistently detected in the cervix after therapeutic conization for CIN 3 and (2) to explore whether a patient with persistence of HPV infection is at risk of developing recurrent disease. METHODS: Of 74 patients referred with CIN 3, 58 who were tested for HPV DNA in the pretreatment cervical lesions were enrolled in the study. After standard therapeutic conization, patients were followed prospectively at the outpatient clinic. Our follow-up protocol was to follow patients without therapeutic intervention as long as they developed no recurrence or recurrence of CIN 1 or 2, while patients who experienced recurrence of CIN 3 were recommended for reconization or hysterectomy. The polymerase chain reaction for detecting HPV DNA was performed using fresh cell samples from the cervix. RESULTS: In 56 of 58 patients (96.6%), HPV DNAs were detected in their primary cervical lesions prior to conization. With regard to the distribution of HPV types, HPV type 16 family (types 16, 31, and 35) was identified in 28 cases (50.0%), type 18 family (types 18, 33 and 58) in 15 (26.8%), and type X in 18 (32.1%). Up to August 1999, all of the 58 patients have been followed with a mean follow-up period of 31.8 months (range: 12 to 73 months). After treatment, HPV DNA was persistently detected in 11 (19.6%) but negative in 45 (80.4%) of 56 HPV DNA-positive patients. HPV DNA was not detected in both HPV DNA-negative patients. Five of 11 persistently HPV DNA-positive patients (45.5%) developed CIN recurrence, while none of 45 persistently HPV DNA-negative patients did. Thus, there was a significant difference between the recurrence rates of these two groups (P < 0.0001). Both patients who were initially HPV DNA-negative developed no recurrence. Accordingly, the overall recurrence following conservative treatment for CIN 3 was 5 of 58 patients (8.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with persistent HPV infection after conization for CIN 3 should be especially closely followed because they are at increased risk of developing disease recurrence.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Surgical resection of pulmonary and extrapulmonary recurrences of uterine leiomyosarcoma.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine long-term survival and predictors of outcome in a retrospective cohort of patients who underwent surgical resection of recurrent uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS). METHODS: Between January 1991 and March 2001, 41 patients who underwent surgical resection for recurrent uterine leiomyosarcoma were identified. The records of these patients were reviewed and abstracted data included patient age, date of initial diagnosis, tumor histology and grade, residual tumor after all operations, the use of adjuvant therapy, dates and sites of all recurrences, and disease status at last follow-up. Survival was determined from the time of first recurrence to last follow-up. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and P values were generated using the likelihood ratio test from the Cox proportional hazards model and chi(2) analysis. RESULTS: Forty-one patients with recurrent uterine LMS (17 local pelvic, 18 distant, 6 both) underwent surgical resection at time of first recurrence. A thoracic procedure alone was performed in 13 cases. Information on residual disease was available for 37 patients. The disease-specific 2-year survival for all 41 patients was 71.2% (95% CI: 58.1, 87.3). In univariate analysis, time to first recurrence and optimal resection were significantly associated with longer overall survival. CONCLUSION: Optimal surgical resection for recurrent uterine leiomyosarcoma may provide an opportunity for long-term survival in a select patient population. Time to first recurrence and optimal surgical resection were predictors of improved outcome in this study.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Recurrent low-grade glioma in children with special reference to computed tomography findings and pathological changes.

Recurrent low-grade gliomas in children were studied with special reference to correlation between the computed tomography (CT) scan and pathological findings at recurrence. During the past 16 years (1970-1986) 105 cases of primary pediatric brain tumors were treated in our hospital. Seventeen of these had low-grade glioma, seven of which (five astrocytomas, one ependymoma, and one subependymoma) had recurrence of tumor by the end of 1987. The enhanced CT findings were classified into three types--cystic, false cystic, and solid, according to Lapras' classification. The pathological findings of recurrent tumors were reviewed with particular attention to malignant transformation. The results showed that in two out of three cases where CT findings had changed from initial cystic to solid type at recurrence malignant transformation was revealed. Enhanced CT scan was also useful for detecting small asymptomatic recurrent tumors in children. On the other hand, surgical procedures and adjuvant therapies demonstrated no significant relationship with recurrence. It is suggested that the recurrence of low-grade glioma in children is not rare, and that changes in findings on contrast enhanced CT might reflect malignant transformation in a recurrent tumor, necessitating a careful follow-up.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988

Bell's palsy and its recurrences.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and the prognosis of patients with recurrences of Bell's palsy. Yanagihara's classification of recurrent palsies was used, and all palsies were separated into five different types. A total of 304 patients with Bell's palsy were examined. The recurrent ipsilateral attacks (i.e., the unilateral recurrent palsies) showed a worse prognosis when compared with the non-recurrent palsies. In contrast, the recurrent attacks involving the contralateral facial nerve (bilateral alternating palsies) presented a better facial recovery. In reviewing the recurrent cases, the stapedial reflex demonstrated no prognostic value. Our results suggest that in presenting data of Bell's palsy it is advisable to differentiate the recurrences from the common (non-recurrent) palsies.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Risk of recurrence after first unprovoked tonic-clonic seizure in adults.

The likelihood of seizure recurrence after a first unprovoked seizure has profound social, vocational and emotional implications for the patients. Recurrence rates have varied between 27% and 71% in various studies, and the management of patients with a single unprovoked seizure is a controversial topic. In this prospective study we investigated the influence of age, sex, family history, EEG patterns, and anticonvulsant drug (ACD) therapy on seizure recurrence after a first unprovoked tonic-clonic seizure in adults. For this purpose, between October 1988 and January 1991, we studied adult patients who had experienced their after unprovoked tonic-clonic seizure within last 2 months before neurological consultation, and followed them until June 1993. There were 147 patients who met the criteria for inclusion. Overall cumulative recurrence rates were 31.8% by 6 months, 41.3% by 1 year, 44.1% by 2 years, 42.2% by 3 years, and 45.2% by 4 years. Among the risk factors that were evaluated, the time of the day at which the initial seizure occurred was associated significantly (P < 0.05) with seizure recurrence. In our series, 62 patients received ACD and 85 did not. We did not find a significant difference in recurrence rate with regard to ACD therapy. Our results are comparable with those of studies reported previously and suggest that the majority of recurrences after a first unprovoked seizure were seen in the first year (in our series 89% of all recurrences). In our study there was no significant predictor of seizure recurrence, except the time of day at which the initial seizure occurred.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Analysis of clinical course of postoperative recurrence in Crohn's disease of distal ileum.

In the present study we have investigated whether in patients with Crohn's Disease the clinical course remains the same from the initial disease to postoperative recurrent disease. Fifty-eight resected patients who developed a postoperative recurrence were followed for 4.2 +/- 3 years (median 3 years). The yearly frequency of flare-up was 1.9 +/- 1.0 (median 1.5) in the initial disease and 1.7 +/- 1.0 (median 1.7) in recurrent disease. In patients who experienced complications during the initial disease, the frequency of complications during the course of recurrent disease was significantly higher than in the others (27/42 vs 3/16, P = 0.002). The frequency of obstruction and extraintestinal manifestations in the recurrent disease was higher in patients who suffered these complications in the initial disease than in those who did not (19/29 vs 6/29, P = 0.0006, and 4/5 vs 4/53, P = 0.0008). The cumulative probability of complication during the course of recurrent disease was higher in patients with complications during the initial disease (P less than 0.001). The survival analysis showed that the cumulative probability of obstruction and extraintestinal complication in recurrent disease was higher in patients who suffered these complications in the initial disease (P less than 0.005). These data indicate that the clinical course of Crohn's disease of the distal ileum remains the same from the initial disease to postoperative recurrent disease. This study also suggests that the short-term course of recurrent disease can reasonably be predicted.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Intracranial meningiomas: analysis of recurrence after surgical treatment.

Recurrence of intracranial meningiomas after surgery has long been recognized, but there is still no consensus about factors responsible for recurrence. To better understand such factors, we analysed data on 276 patients with meningiomas who were treated at our institution from 1976 to 1990 (mean follow-up = 5.1 years). Effects of sex, tumour histology, tumour site, and radiotherapy on recurrence were closely studied. Using World Health Organization criteria to define malignancy, 254 of the tumours were benign and 22 were atypical or malignant. For data analysis, distinction was made between "recurrence"(i.e., reappearance of tumour after total resection) and "regrowth" (i.e., tumour enlargement after subtotal removal). Recurrence was seen in 2 of 183 benign meningiomas and in 10 of 16 malignant meningiomas. Recurrence and regrowth rates for malignant meningiomas far exceeded those for benign meningiomas (p = 0.001). Neither sex nor tumour site was associated with subsequent recurrences in patients whose tumours had been completely resected. The influence of radiotherapy was studied in terms of its effects on benign versus malignant meningiomas, whether given after complete or incomplete resection, and whether given after primary resection or on reoperation. We found that radiotherapy did not decrease "recurrence" or "regrowth" regardless of when administered, either at first resection or on recurrence. This was true for benign as well as malignant meningiomas. However, due to the small number in our series, we cannot conclude that radiotherapy has no beneficial role in the treatment of meningiomas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988

Increased parietal cell responsiveness to tetragastrin in patients with recurrent duodenal ulcer.

To clarify the contributive factors in the recurrence of duodenal ulcer, the present study was carried out on 65 male patients with active duodenal ulcers and 20 healthy male subjects. After having verified that the ulcer had healed, gastric acid secretory responses to graded doses of tetragastrin from 62.5 to 16,000 ng/kg/hr were investigated using a logarithmic transformation model. Several clinical features were also investigated. The patients were divided into three groups based on the later endoscopic follow-up study for two years. The early-recurrent group included 16 patients with recurrence occurring within three months. The late-recurrent group included 25 with recurrence occurring after three months. The nonrecurrent group included 24 patients without recurrences during the follow-up period. The 20 healthy male subjects were defined as a control group. The results were as follows: (1) Significant differences were not discerned either in basal and peak acid outputs between the three patients groups. (2) The ED50 value for tetragastrin was lower in the early-recurrent group than in the other three groups. (3) The early-recurrent group showed a higher percentage of smokers than the other patient groups. These results suggest that smoking and increased parietal cell responsiveness correlates strongly with duodenal ulcer recurrence.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Second-look operation for recurrent colorectal cancer based on carcinoembryonic antigen and imaging techniques.

PURPOSE: The usefulness of postoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) monitoring and improvements in imaging techniques have renewed enthusiasm for second-look operations (SLO) as the most effective treatment for recurrent colorectal cancer by reresection following early detection. The aim of our study is to evaluate the role of CEA and imaging techniques-directed SLO. METHODS: Seven hundred fifty-six patients with Dukes Stages B and C, who had undergone curative resection, were monitored postoperatively using CEA and imaging techniques. An SLO was performed on any potentially resectable recurrence, and in addition, an SLO was done when a persistently rising CEA value was detected. RESULTS: Recurrence developed in 18.8 percent (142/756) of patients, and 90.8 percent (129/142) of the recurrences were detected within the first three years following curative resection. When comparing carcinomas of the colon with that of the rectum, the former were associated with significantly more hepatic and intraabdominal recurrences, whereas the latter had significantly more locoregional and pulmonary recurrences. Seventy-two patients underwent SLO. Of these patients, 54.2 percent (39/72) had all of their disease resected, and 1.4 percent (1/72) had no detectable disease at the SLO. Among the 142 patients with recurrence, 71 (50 percent) patients underwent SLO. The resectable group at SLO carried a significantly better survival than the unresectable recurrence group (41.3 vs. 5.2 percent; P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Complete removal of colorectal cancer recurrences by SLO, on the basis of postoperative, follow-up CEA and imaging technique findings, results in improved survival.

Actuarial Analysis↗

PubMed1996

Prognostic factors for postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease. Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio del Colon e del Retto (GISC)

UNLABELLED: Prognostic factors for postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease (CD) have been widely investigated but not yet clearly identified. PURPOSE: Aim of this study was, therefore, to analyze the association between demographic, clinical, laboratory, and surgical characteristics of patients and the cumulative probability of endoscopic postoperative recurrence. METHODS: The study was performed in 110 patients who were enrolled in the Italian multicenter, randomized, controlled trial on the effectiveness of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) in the prevention of postoperative recurrence in CD. Patients had undergone their first intestinal resection for CD of the terminal ileum with or without involvement of cecum ascending colon. Recurrence was defined on the basis of endoscopy. The following variables were evaluated as potential prognostic factors: gender, age, years since diagnosis, clinical course (perforative and non-perforative), Crohn's Disease Activity Index score, white blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and orosomucoids assessed before the operation. Timing of operation (elective or urgent), type of anastomosis (end-to-end, end-to-side, side-to-side), and prophylactic treatment were also evaluated. Colon ileoscopy was performed at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after operation. The association between variables and the cumulative proportion of recurrence was analyzed both by univariate analysis (life table method, log-rank test) and multivariate regression analysis (Cox's model, stepwise procedure). RESULTS: Results of this study indicate that, of the features considered before surgery, only leukocytosis (white blood count, >9,000 ml) was significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrence (P < 0.05) at univariate analysis. This finding was not confirmed by multivariate analysis. A trend toward a higher risk of recurrence for patients who have had a resection with end-to-end anastomosis compared with those who have had a resection and other types of anastomosis was also observed. This trend reached significantly in the group of patients submitted to treatment with 5-ASA. The multivariate analysis showed that 5-ASA-treated patients with end-to-end had a risk of recurrence more than threefold higher than those with other types of anastomosis (relative risk, 3.40; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.00-11.96; P < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: From a practical point of view, it has been estimated that the combination of intestinal resection plus side-to-side or end-to-side anastomosis with oral 5-ASA treatment reduces by 64 percent the postoperative recurrence rate in CD at three years follow-up.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

The value of serum carcinoembryonic antigen in predicting recurrent disease following curative resection of colorectal cancer.

UNLABELLED: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) estimations are used to facilitate early diagnosis of recurrent disease after treatment for colorectal cancer. PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine the natural history of patients with normal and abnormal levels of CEA. METHODS: Patients undergoing potential curative resection of colorectal tumors (Dukes Stage A-C) entered a prospective, randomized trial comparing two follow-up regimens (to be reported separately) had CEA levels measured every 3 months for two years; then every 6 months for the next three years. In the study protocol, a rise in CEA was not an indication for investigation to determine recurrence unless there was also other evidence of recurrent disease. RESULTS: Three hundred eleven patients were followed for a median of 4.5 (range, 2-5) years. Recurrent disease developed in 98 (32 percent) patients, 57 of whom had an elevated CEA (sensitivity 58 percent), with a median lead time of six (range, 1-30) months from first abnormal CEA to diagnosis of recurrent disease by other means. The specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CEA as an indicator of subsequent recurrent disease was 93 percent, 79 percent, and 83 percent, respectively. The sensitivity of CEA for predicting hepatic metastases was 80 percent, with a median lead time of eight (range, 1-30) months, compared with only 46 percent for sites of recurrent disease other than the liver. CONCLUSIONS: CEA was the first indicator of recurrent disease in 58 percent of all patients and in 80 percent of patients with liver metastases. The diagnosis of recurrent disease may be made several months earlier by investigating the first abnormal CEA level, although any benefit in terms of survival remains to be proven.

Aftercare↗