Laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer: is it justified?

Controversy remains regarding the appropriateness of laparoscopic methods for the curative resection of colonic neoplasms. Long-term results after minimally invasive resection must be shown to be equivalent or better than those after open resection in order to justify the new technique in the setting of cancer. This article discusses adequacy of resection and short-term results, long-term outcome data, port and abdominal wound tumors, oncologic and immunologic basic science data, and the role of laparoscopy in the treatment of rectal cancers.