[Progress in the treatment of colonic cancers: early detection]

A parallelism was found to exist in cases of colon carcinoma between the number of affected lymph nodes and the chance of survival. Prognostication is possible by means of Dukes classification and the TNM system. Prospects of therapy can be improved by early detection of the tumour proper and of precancerous lesions. Colonoscopy is recommended as the optional diagnostic method, which applies equally to postoperative follow-up.