[Surgery of colon and rectal cancer]

The modern surgery of the colorectal carcinoma is becoming more and more standardized which is reflected by the drastic reduction of postoperative lethality. Since the curing rates have only been marginally improved in the last 20 years the new trend is going in the direction of more radical techniques. Adjuvant therapy methods such as radio-, chemo- and immunotherapy have not yet fulfilled their expectancies. The modern standard and problematic in the colorectal carcinoma surgery is discussed using the results of 257 operated carcinomas in the time from January 1st 1984 to April 28th 1987.