title: Developments in colorectal cancer surgery.
abstract: The developments in colorectal cancer since the 19th century are reviewed. Local recurrence of colorectal cancer after curative surgery is a major problem and may occur because of inadequate removal of the primary tumour and lymph node metastases, or intra-operative spill of tumour cells. Colorectal surgeons differ with regard to postoperative mortality. The best surgical technique has not yet been determined; there have been only two prospective randomised trials on surgical technique. However, it is predicted that laparoscopic surgery will have an important place in colorectal surgery.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeekel
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009366:Neoplasm Seeding