Advances in surgical technique for primary rectal cancer

Abstract  Rectal cancer continues to produce significant morbidity and mortality, with about 41,000 new cases diagnosed per year in the United States. Recent advances in the management of rectal cancer, including the standardization of total mesorectal excision and the increasing application of neoadjuvant chemoradiation, have led to an increase in patients undergoing sphincter preservation and a decrease in the rate of local-regional tumor recurrence. This article reviews the current literature that affects the surgeon’s decisions regarding preoperative staging and operative management of the patient diagnosed with rectal cancer.