[Indications for restorative rectal resection in carcinoma--complete vs. partial and local resection]

Rectal continence preservation became feasible in treatment of cancer of the lower third of the rectum based upon technical evolutions and better understanding of tumor biology. Absolutely necessary precondition is correct preoperative staging. Operative strategy is determined by tumor stage, localization, grade and continence function. In most cases the total mesorectal excision leads to tumor-free circumferential resection margins. Distal safety margins are assured by intraoperative frozen sections. Restorative approaches are contraindicated in case of sphincter infiltration. If continence function is impaired preoperatively, restorative procedures lead to a worse functional result. The local recurrence remains the most important problem in rectal cancer surgery. Safety in resection is achieved by total mesorectal excision. The presence of distal satellite metastasis or lymph node metastasis bear a certain risk for local recurrence after partial resections of middle or upper third rectal cancer. Local resection in T1-Tumors with G1- or G2-Grading may produce comparable results.