Surgical Treatment of Rectal Cancer: State of the Art and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Background: Surgical management is the primary treatment of potentially curable rectal cancer. In most cases, this involves resection of the primary tumour and regional lymph nodes. However, treatment of rectal cancer patients may vary from local excision in carefully selected patients with limited carcinomas to multimodality management for advanced rectal cancers. The objective in all cases is to maximize both oncological and functional results. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of state of the art surgical treatment of primary rectal cancer as well as a discussion of selected current controversies.