title: Controversies in laparoscopy for colon and rectal cancer.
abstract: There is sufficient level I evidence to support and even recommend laparoscopy as the surgical modality of choice for colon cancer resection. Laparoscopy offers improved short-term outcomes and at least equivalent long-term oncologic outcomes when compared with open resection. Laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery remains investigational. Short-term results from a large multinational randomized trial suggest that laparoscopy is not inferior to open total mesorectal excision with regard to completeness of resection and short-term morbidity and mortality. It is necessary to await the long-term oncologic results of current studies before embracing laparoscopic proctectomy for rectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Electronic address: mathis.kellie@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Kellie L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Mathis
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Colon cancer; Laparoscopic surgery; Oncologic outcomes; Rectal cancer; Surgical morbidity