RATIONALE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in North America. Five year overall survival (OS) rates for stage II and III cancer are 70% and 55% respectively. Following resection, patients remain at risk for recurrence. Guidelines exist for the recommended surveillance of patients following surgical resection, with the aim of detecting recurrences earlier, thereby reducing mortality. More intense surveillance may reduce mortality. However, it has also been shown that adherence to the recommended surveillance is low. We aim to determine the proportion of patients at our center with resected stage II and III CRC who undergo complete surveillance at eighteen months. 
METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of patients who underwent resection for stage II and III CRC between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014 at a single academic tertiary hospital. Following resection, patients who had at least one CEA test, one colonoscopy and one CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis within eighteen months were considered to have complete surveillance. 
RESULTS: We identified 75 eligible stage II and III CRC patients that were included in our study. At eighteen months, surveillance rates with CEA, CT scan and colonoscopy were 55%, 72% and 33% respectively. Overall, 23% of patients received the complete recommended surveillance at eighteen months. 
CONCLUSION: In patients with stage II and III CRC, the recommended surveillance includes CEA testing, colonoscopy and CT scans. We have demonstrated that at a single center, adherence to the recommended surveillance is low. Given that more intense surveillance may reduce mortality, the rates of complete surveillance at our center must be improved. Other studies have shown that introducing measures aimed at increasing adherence to surveillance, such as a patient navigator, is effective. Our study provides evidence that the introduction of such measures should be considered at our center.

Completeness of surveillance after resection for stage II/III colorectal cancer: a retrospective review