title: Minimal access surgery for rectal cancer: an update.
abstract: Minimally invasive or minimal access surgery (MAS) for colon and rectal cancer was introduced in the early 1990s. Although laparoscopic colon surgery is now practiced worldwide, technical barriers, including a steep learning curve, preclude the widespread adoption of MAS techniques for rectal cancer. In addition, although randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that MAS techniques for colon cancer are oncologically equivalent to open surgery, similar confirmatory studies for rectal cancer have yet to be reported. In this Review, current evidence in support of laparoscopic and robotic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer resection is presented. Other MAS approaches, such as transanal endoscopic microsurgery and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Colorectal Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Vanessa W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Colorectal Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: José G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Guillem
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D057605:Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012371:Robotics; D016896:Treatment Outcome