Introduction: The evidence base for follow up of NSCLC following surgery remains limited, with variation between guidelines and in clinical practice.
Aims: Review follow up practice, recurrence and subsequent treatment across 11 centres within the West of Scotland.
Methods: Data for 963 consecutive patients treated from 2015-17 were collected prospectively with follow up practice and recurrence within 2 years examined using electronic case notes.
Results: 55% of patients were followed up with plain film, 39% had planned CT scanning with a small proportion lost to follow up.
Overall 26% of patients recurred and this increased with stage (Table 1). Method of recurrence detection is shown in Table 2. 68% of patients had distant metastatic disease at the time of their recurrence diagnosis.
Conclusion: There is significant variability in follow up practice across the West of Scotland. A high proportion of patients who recurred had distant metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis with a small proportion suited for radical treatment. Regular post surgical imaging for patients with higher risk of recurrence may allow more patients to have further radical treatment.