[Laparoscopic resection of a malignoma--a question of oncological-surgical methods or technification of another...

Laparoscopic resection of the colon for malignant disease is both technically and methodically possible. But at present it is not clear whether this method includes new and unknown dangers too and whether it really provides any advantages for the patient. The benefits with regard to comfort/quality of life have not been examined closely enough. It can not be assumed that patients operated on a malignant disease are able to perceive and to profit from the comfort achieved by laparoscopic operations in the same way as patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. There is a definite need of closely controlled studies to define when the use of laparoscopic operation benefits the quality of life for the patients. By solving the technical problems we probably achieve less than we will admit if we can not prove clearly and objectively the advantages with regard to survival-rate and increase in the quality of life for the patients.