Background and objectives:

The rates of (interval) stomach cancer (SC) or postendoscopy (PECRC) or postcolonoscopy (PCCRC) colorectal cancer (CRC) have been little studied in our setting. Data from overseas studies reported PECRC and PCCRC rates of 7-26%. We aim to determine and compare local PECRC and PCCRC rates and characteristics.

Patients and methods:

With data from three quaternary-care cancer centers, we ambispectively identified patients diagnosed with SC and CRC between 2012 and 2021, in whom a history of endoscopies or colonoscopies in the previous three years was investigated. Cancers diagnosed between 6 and 36 months after an endoscopic study reported as normal were defined as interval cancers. This study compares the clinical, endoscopic, and survival characteristics of both PECRC and PCCRC cohorts.

Results:

Of 828 patients diagnosed with SC, 66 had PECRC (rate: 7.3%), while in 919 patients with CRC, 68 had PCCRC (rate: 6.9%). There were no significant differences in age or sex, although males predominated (2:1) in the PECRC (0.09). The finding of premalignant lesions was similar in both groups (p = 0.260). The anatomical location was shown to be more proximal (right colon) in the PCCRC than in the PECRC (cardia/fundus) (p = 0.002). Gastric neoplasms were more poorly differentiated (58%) than colon neoplasms (26%) (p = 0.001). There were no differences in early cancers, but tumor status was more advanced in PECRC (p < 0.01). The Kaplan-Meier showed a worse survival for PCCRC than for detected CRC, with no differences in SC and PECRC, suggesting poor survival.

Conclusions:

The rate of interval cancers is 7.3% and 6.9%, and differences were found between PECRC and PCCRC, proximal locations of the lesions, degree of differentiation, tumor status, and poor survival for the PCCRC. Establishing measures to achieve the World Endoscopy Organization’s goal of <5% is necessary.

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