Preoperative evaluation and postoperative surveillance for patients with colorectal carcinoma

As the understanding of the biology of carcinoma of the colon and rectum increases and the effectiveness of adjuvant therapy for patients with such carcinoma improves, preoperative staging of disease has assumed an increasingly important role. The rationale and specifics of preoperative evaluation and the role, rationale, and controversies regarding postoperative surveillance after curative resection of colorectal carcinoma are discussed.