title: Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision.
abstract: After total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer was introduced in 1982, local recurrence rates decreased to 5%. These results were found to be reproducible; therefore, the technique became standard for the treatment of rectal cancer. Laparoscopic surgery for curable colorectal malignancy is still considered investigational. Indeed, the United States National Cancer Institute (NCI) trial excludes rectal carcinoma. The application of laparoscopy to rectal carcinoma must compete with total mesorectal excision, which has obtained favorable results in the last decade. In this review, we assess the adequacy of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision, describe the techniques (both anterior resection and abdominoperineal resection), and discuss their potential advantages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, 2950 Cleveland Clinic Blvd., Weston, FL 33331, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pikarsky
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Wexner
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D010502:Perineum / Q000601:surgery; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*