Timing and Frequency of Surveillance Colonoscopies After Resection for Colorectal Cancer in Queensland, Australia: A Retrospective 10-Year Analysis

Yiu Ming Ho; Katharina M.D. Merollini; Louisa G. Collins

doi:10.1002/jgh3.70266

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Timing and Frequency of Surveillance Colonoscopies After Resection for Colorectal Cancer in Queensland, Australia: A Retrospective 10-Year Analysis

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Timing and Frequency of Surveillance Colonoscopies After Resection for Colorectal Cancer in Queensland, Australia: A Retrospective 10-Year Analysis

Yiu Ming Ho, Katharina M.D. Merollini and Louisa G. Collins

JGH Open, Vol.9(9), pp.1-15

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jgh3.70266

PMCID: PMC12404826

PMID: 40904596

Appears in Cancer Research Cluster Research Collection

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Abstract

adenomatous polyps

clinical guidelines

colonoscopy surveillance

colorectal cancer

surveillance frequency

Objective To compare the timing intervals of surveillance colonoscopies after resection for colorectal cancer with recommendations in the Australian Clinical Practice Guidelines for Surveillance Colonoscopy. Study Design A retrospective, observational study. Data Sources Adults who had a resection for colorectal cancer from the Costs of Surviving Cancer—Queensland Study (COS-Q), which is a retrospective population-based cohort study of all individuals diagnosed with a primary cancer from 2005 to 2015. Results In total, 7265 patients that underwent resection of colorectal cancer were included for analysis. Most patients had a pre-operative colonoscopy (6636, 87.6%) while 899 patients (12.4%) had no pre-operative colonoscopy. 82.1% of patients had their first surveillance colonoscopy as recommended by the Guidelines. In contrast, after the first post-operative surveillance colonoscopy without polypectomy, 978 of 1015 (96.4%) had a second surveillance colonoscopy early by at least 6 months. Thirty seven (1.7%) had the surveillance colonoscopy on time or later than recommended. Being female or having a pre-operative colonoscopy was associated with an early second surveillance colonoscopy (odds ratio 2.2, p < 0.05). Early surveillance colonoscopies incurred costs up to AU$3.78 million. Conclusions Most post-resection surveillance colonoscopies for patients with colorectal cancer are performed earlier than recommended. Since colonoscopies in patients at low risk of cancer recurrence were generally performed too early, there is evidence of the potential overuse of healthcare resources and the opportunity to improve hospital efficiency.

Details

Title: Timing and Frequency of Surveillance Colonoscopies After Resection for Colorectal Cancer in Queensland, Australia: A Retrospective 10-Year Analysis
Authors: Yiu Ming Ho (Corresponding Author) - Prince Charles Hospital
Katharina M.D. Merollini - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Public Health
Louisa G. Collins - Cancer Council Queensland
Publication details: JGH Open, Vol.9(9), pp.1-15
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1002/jgh3.70266
ISSN: 2397-9070
PMID: 40904596; PMC12404826
Copyright note: © 2025 The Author(s). JGH Open published by Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Grant note: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Organisation Unit: Cancer Research Cluster; School of Health - Public Health
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991163643302621
Output Type: Journal article

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