[Tumor surgery: principles of radical treatment (author's transl)]

The 5-year survival rate for curative radical resections of colorectal cancer including Dukes' stages A-C has not improved during the last 20 years. The main principles of surgical treatment have now been realized: en-bloc resection of the tumor together with its lymph drainage system, primary high ligature of the supplying blood vessels, prophylaxis of peroperative metastases and a high total resection rate with low operative mortality. In the future, an improved prognosis must come from prophylaxis, early diagnosis, and improved methods of irradiation and chemotherapy, because the limits of surgical treatment have been reached.