[Multimodal surgical intervention to improve outcome after colon cancer].

Surgeons have focused their efforts towards improving outcome following surgical treatment of rectal cancer by implementation of the total mesorectal excision technique, among others. Great progress has been made, and in Denmark and Sweden survival rates for rectal cancer now exceed those for colon cancer. Recently, the significance of complete mesocolic excision in colonic cancer has been acknowledged. Treatment of colon cancer is challenging in patients with locally advanced disease, peritoneal carcinomatosis, and emergency presentation, all of which are described.