Surveillance colonoscopy for patients after colorectal cancer resection or after colonic polypectomy

For the treatment of

Early detection of new/recurrent colorectal cancer or related predisposing colon changes

Commissioning position

This intervention is only commissioned when used in accordance with the recommendations specified in the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) Evidence Based Interventions (EBI) programme: Repeat Colonoscopy - EBI

Summary of rationale

This recommendation follows the 2019 guidelines from the British Society of Gastroenterology, the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, and Public Health England. Premalignant polyps are found in 25–50% of people at screening age, but only about 5% will develop colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, most individuals with polyps do not benefit from post-polypectomy surveillance. The initial removal of polyps provides the greatest prevention against CRC, while ongoing surveillance offers less benefit and adds strain to patients and endoscopy resources. Risk can be stratified, but even so, around 15% of the annual half a million colonoscopies in the UK are for polyp surveillance.

References

Repeat Colonoscopy - EBI

Associated Pathways

There are no associated pathways.

Specialties

Cancer (Urgent Suspected Cancer/2ww) Hull Cancer (Urgent Suspected Cancer/2ww) East Riding Cancer (Urgent Suspected Cancer/2ww) North Lincolnshire Cancer (Urgent Suspected Cancer/2ww) North East Lincolnshire Diagnostics York Diagnostics North Yorkshire Diagnostics Hull Diagnostics East Riding Diagnostics North Lincolnshire Diagnostics North East Lincolnshire Gastroenterology Hull Gastroenterology East Riding Gastroenterology North Lincolnshire Gastroenterology North East Lincolnshire Gastroenterology & Hepatology York Gastroenterology & Hepatology North Yorkshire Urgent Suspected Cancer York Urgent Suspected Cancer North Yorkshire

Places covered by

  • East Riding
  • Hull
  • North East Lincolnshire
  • North Lincolnshire
  • North Yorkshire
  • Vale of York
Date created: 03/12/2025, 17:00
Last modified: 04/12/2025, 10:09
Date due for review: 31/12/2028