Cancer surgery: the last 25 years

Surgery is, and always has been, the main treatment modality of solid tumours. For a long period, it consisted of a number of surgical procedures dictated by basic oncologic principles, most of which are still adhered to. Over the last few decades, increased understanding of the disease, new or improved diagnostic facilities, novel and perfected adjuvant treatments, improved surgical techniques and daring challenges to established dogmas have all contributed to the development of surgical oncology. The heritage from the past came under close scrutiny, and the fruits of basic and clinical science were added to an ever expanding body of knowledge. It is impossible to review all developments in surgical oncology of the last 25 years in one comprehensive paper. Therefore we have restricted ourselves to those items that appear most representative for the changes that have taken place, and those diseases that have the greatest numerical impact.