441 Background: To provide population-based data on the patterns, risk factors, treatment, and survival of distant recurrences of colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: All patients (n=6,066) diagnosed with CRC M0 in 10 large Dutch non-academic hospitals between 2003 and 2008 were included. By means of active follow-up, data on distant recurrences and systemic treatment were collected. Median follow-up was 4.4 year. Results: 1,074 (18%) patients were diagnosed with distant recurrent disease during follow-up of which 85% within 3 years. Most common affected sites were liver (60%), lung (39%), extra-regional lymph nodes (22%) and peritoneum (19%) (multiple sites possible). Male sex (female=ref (17%), 19%/HR 1.1 95%CI 1.0-1.3), advanced primary tumor stage (T1=ref (4%), T2 9%/HR 3.0 95%CI 1.8-4.9, T3 21%/HR 6.1 95%CI 3.8-9.9, T4 29%/HR 11.0 95%CI 6.7-18.1), advanced lymph node stage (N0=ref (11%), N1 29%/HR 2.8 95%CI 2.4-3.3, N2 41%/HR 4.5 95%CI 3.7-5.4), primary tumor localization (left colon=ref (17%), right colon 16%/HR 0.8 95%CI 0.7-1.0, rectum 25%/HR 1.2 95%CI 1.0-1.4), and tumor differentiation grade (well differentiated=ref [16%], poorly differentiated 26%/HR 1.4 95%CI 1.2-1.7) were associated with increased risk recurrences while chemotherapy for the primary tumor was associated with reduced risk (HR 0.8 95%CI 0.7-0.9). Recurrence rates did not differ between hospitals. 52% of patients with recurrences received systemic therapy, ranging from 34-62% between the 10 hospitals (p<0.01). Half of these patients (52%) was also treated with bevacizumab, ranging from 39-73% between hospitals (p<0.05). Median survival since diagnosis of recurrence was 31 months for patients with lung metastases only, 16 months for liver metastases only, 14 months for lung metastases only, and 5 months for metastases confined to the peritoneum. Conclusions: The development of distant recurrent disease was strongly related to tumor characteristics, but not correlated with hospital of primary treatment. Population-based data on distant recurrences may ultimately contribute to more accurate patient information, and more efficient follow-up schemes.