Current surgical considerations for colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States each year. Among men and women, it is the third most common cancer following lung cancer, prostate and breast cancers, respectively. In recent years, It has been estimated that in 2012 there were more than 100,000 new cases of colon cancer and more than 40,000 cases of rectal cancer (1,2). Fortunately, both the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer have declined steadily in the past three decades. This has been largely attributed to more effective screening programs and improvements in treatment modalities (1,2). Surgical resection offers the best chance of achieving cure, but the management of colorectal cancer often requires a multidisciplinary approach, which has been pivotal in achieving better patient satisfaction and outcomes.