Strukturierte onkologische Nachsorge

Background

Patients with cancer and recommendations for aftercare are increasing worldwide.

Objectives

Presentation of the current follow-up guidelines of selected gastrointestinal tumors.

Materials and methods

The current German S3 guidelines for colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and gastric cancer are analyzed.

Results

The S3 guidelines for colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma favor structured aftercare. For a period of 2–5 years, a combination of case history, physical examination, imaging, endoscopy, and determination of tumor markers is recommended. Advocacy for structured aftercare for pancreatic or gastric cancer must be decided individually. In general, the follow-up time and interval should be adjusted to the complaints of the patient, regardless of the tumor type.

Conclusions

Structured aftercare makes sense and is already part in the monitoring of selected gastrointestinal tumors.