Polyp surveillance
Adult

Endoscopy

Useful Management Information

NHMRC Clinical Practice Guidelines (2017) recommended screening colonoscopy schedules for polyp surveillance (GESA Gastroenterological Society of Australia, 2009)

  • 5 yearly – If < 3 polyps (excluding diminutive rectosigmoid hyperplastic polyps) provided that all polyps are ‘simple’ as defined by dimensions (<10mm) and histopathology (no high-grade dysplasia or villous change)
  • 3 yearly – If > 3 polyps (excluding diminutive rectosigmoid hyperplastic polyps) or if one or more polyps are ‘advanced’ as characterised by dimensions (≥10mm) and/or histopathology (presence of high-grade dysplasia or villous change)
  • Annual – If 5 to 9 polyps (excluding diminutive rectosigmoid hyperplastic polyps)
  • <12 months – If required, a baseline colonoscopy may need to be repeated in cases of poor bowel preparation (immediate rescheduling), possible incomplete excision of a large polyp (often at 3 months) or the presence of multiple adenomas (≥10) to ensure complete clearance

NB: patients with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) and Lynch syndrome (HNPCC) need punctual surveillance due to the high-risk nature of these conditions.

NB: If a patient has been fully investigated 2 years prior to referral, then the referrer and the receiving clinician will need to exercise clinical decision making in triaging and/or value in repeat endoscopy/colonoscopy procedures

Clinical resources

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • See Useful Management Information section for guideline information
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • See Useful Management Information section for guideline information
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • See Useful Management Information section for guideline information
  • Consider other treatment pathways or an alternative diagnosis
  • If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested:
    • Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
  • Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service.

Essential Referral Information

  • Relatives diagnosed with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) (if applicable)
  • Relatives diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome (HNPCC) (if applicable)
  • Family or personal history of colorectal cancer
  • Previous endoscopic procedures (date, report and histology)

If a specific test result is unable to be obtained due to access, financial, religious, cultural or consent reasons a Clinical Override may be requested. This reason must be clearly articulated in the body of the referral.

Additional Referral Information

  • No additional referral information
Last updated 16 July 2021

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Preferred Method
About Smart Referrals

Secure Web Transfer

Send to: Gold Coast Health Service District

Internal Referrals

Not available

Fax

(07) 5687 4497

Post

Booking and Referral Centre
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215

Enquiries

1300 559 083

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

Service Availability

Dr Sneha John
Medical Director Endoscopy

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital

If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.

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