Surgical aspects of colorectal carcinoma

Colorectal surgery remains the cornerstone of curative therapy for colorectal carcinoma. The development of new instruments permitting technical advances, however, as well as the advent of effective adjuvant therapies and the progress in staging and early detection, have changed some of the indications for surgery as well as surgical methods. Even so, emphasis has always been placed on thorough preoperative evaluation and staging. This article explores the current state of standard surgical care of the colorectal cancer patient with special attention given to preoperative evaluation, standard and controversial surgical therapies, and postoperative surveillance.