The monitoring of CEA is valuable in the follow-up after curative resection of colorectal cancer and contributes to the early detection of local recurrence and distant metastases. The simultaneous detection of the CA 19-9 does not lead to a substantial advantage. The recurrences and especially the metastases detected by the monitoring of the tumour markers frequently are unresectable. In patients with elevated tumour markers without other evidences of recurrence or metastases the indication for a second-look operation should be considered cautious because elevated tumour markers are found in patients with benign diseases also.
Adult Aftercare