[The extent of resection in rectal cancer]

The condition of the "tumor field" in cancer of the rectum was studied. The work was performed on 28 preparations of the resected and extirpated rectum as serial paraffin sections in 8 radial directions for a distance of 10 cm from the visible margin of the tumor. The "tumor field" border at the distal direction is not less than 3.5-4 cm with the exophital growth and 4-5 cm with the endophital growth. The "tumor field" contours resemble an ellipse with excentricity in the proximal direction.