[Development of colorectal tumor surgery in the last 20 years]

Early and longterm results in surgery for colorectal cancer during the last two decades were investigated by a retrospective analysis of the data of 1,203 patients. During the last 10 years we registered a significant increase in more advanced tumors of the stage III and IV from 37 to 52%. Nevertheless operative mortality was reduced from 8.5 to 3.5%. The amount of curative resections was 80% constantly. The incidence of local recurrence decreased from 18 to 12%, distant metastases however were observed twice as much during the last decade (16%) as compared to the first 10 years of the observation period. Longterm survival has only slightly improved, concerning mainly stage III patients with an increase of 5-year-survival from 31 to 48%. The results of a rigorous follow up after surgery for colon and rectal carcinoma were disappointing.