[Views on simple surgical aspects of gastrointestinal cancer in Norway]

A questionnaire was used to study various aspects of the surgical treatment of cancer of the oesophagus, pancreas, stomach and colon/rectum in Norway. 48 of 51 departments replied. Half of the departments perform radical operations for oesophageal cancer and nearly all do total gastrectomies and low anterior resections for rectal cancer. Palliative surgery is seldom performed for oesophageal cancer, but is frequently performed for gastric cancer. Obstruction of the colon is relieved preferably by primary resection. Low anterior resection is usually performed when a free resection margin of 2 cm can be achieved. Jaundice is relieved palliatively preferably by endoscopy. University hospitals perform total gastrectomy to a greater extent than other hospital and have greater faith in radical operations for pancreatic cancer. Otherwise there are no conspicuous differences of opinion between the different categories of hospitals.