Colon cancer: trials, results, techniques (LAP and HALS), future

Laparoscopic resection of colon cancer became mired in controversy when it appeared that the technique might be associated with an increased risk of tumor recurrence within the surgical incisions. This was not a uniform finding among all surgeons, however, and other evidence suggested that this did not occur in experienced hands. Thus were born several randomized controlled trials of laparoscopic versus open colectomy for cancer in the early and mid-1990s. These trials came to maturity between 2002 and 2006 and form the basis of this review.