Does Post-Treatment Surveillance Imaging Improve Outcomes In Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer?

548 Background: The optimal post-treatment surveillance strategy for pts with rectal cancer is undefined. Trials examining surveillance with serial CEA measurements and/or imaging for colorectal cancer have yielded conflicting results, and no prospective trials have been done specific to rectal cancer pts. In the absence of data, reputable guidelines advocate serial chest, abdomen and pelvic imaging, CEA and colonoscopy after definitive treatment of rectal cancer. The rationale is to identify recurrence before it is symptomatic: if local, to avoid morbidity and if distant, because of the possibility of curative therapy. However, frequent imaging raises concerns regarding radiation exposure, consequences from false-positive findings, and cost. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with stage II/III rectal cancer treated definitively with neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by surgical resection over the past 10 years. CEA, imaging studies and colonoscopies were recorded for all pts...