[Current principles in surgical therapy of rectal cancer]

The Author critically analyzes the aims of curative surgery for rectal cancer, i.e. radical colonic resection, lymphoadenectomy, conservation of adequate post-surgical functionality of the remaining colon. Nowadays, therapy does not end with the exeresis of the primary cancer as an isolated stage but rather includes adequate follow-up to prevent metachronous cancer by detecting and removing recurrent adenomas. But it also includes early diagnosis of any recurrence of the primary cancer to facilitate adequate treatment.