[Present state and problems of laparoscopic surgery for colon and rectal carcinoma]

Laparoscopic surgery has been indicated as a choice of treatment for colon and rectal carcinoma in many institutes. However, indication and techniques of laparoscopic surgery have not been fixed probably because curability of laparoscopic surgery has not proved clear. D1 lymphadenectomy for early cancer is easy because only dissection of the mesenterium is necessary. But D2 and D3 lymphadenectomy is not popular because it needs the clearance of the root of main artery of the tumor. We compared the postoperative recovery and curability of laparoscopic surgery with conventional operation. Curavility of the operation was similar among laparoscopic surgery and conventional operation. Thus laparoscopic surgery for colon and rectum can be indicated even in cases of advanced carcinoma. To spread laparoscopic surgery, post graduate education program is necessary to get consensus of indication and techniques of laparoscopic surgery.