Background: Patients with longstanding ulcerative colitis are at increased risk of colorectal cancer. In the literature, no agreement has yet been reached regarding prevention strategies. Our report sums up a prospective study started in 1980.
Methods: A total of 65 patients affected by ulcerative colitis for more than seven years were admitted to a regular colonoscopic and biopsy follow-up programme.
Results: Some 20 years after the beginning of the study, 23 (35.3%) patients have been operated upon, 2 patients have died but not from cancer 29 (44.66%) patients have abandoned the programme. Only 11 (16.9%) patients have remained under colonoscopic surveillance.
Conclusion: These results cast some doubts on the significance of such a programme and on its long-term feasibility.