History of Minimally Invasive Surgical Oncology

Introduction of the fiberoptic light-source and CCD chip camera resulted in the rapid growth of minimally invasive surgical procedures. In surgical oncology, the change came slowly owing to concerns about adhering to oncological principals while learning to use new technology. Pioneers in minimally invasive colorectal surgery proved that minimally invasive resection for cancer was oncologically noninferior to traditional surgery. Early adopters treating esophageal and gastric cancer established that a minimally invasive approach was feasible with lower morbidity and equivalent oncologic outcomes. These results provide a basis for the extension of minimally invasive surgical techniques to other types of cancer surgery.