[The contribution made by the 2nd Department of Surgery, Vienna University, to the treatment of colorectal cancer (author's transl)].

The treatment of colorectal cancer was chosen as a significant example for the history of the second department of surgery of Vienna University. Not only was a considerable part of relevant surgical techniques developed here, but also the problem of cancer has always been one of the traditional fields of activity of this institution. After the foundation of modern abdominal surgery by Billroth, his pupil Czerny performed the first combined abdomino-perineal resection of the rectum, whilst Gussenbauer, his successor, carried out the first curative resection of a carcinoma of the colon. Hochenegg performed the first sphincter-saving resection of the rectum and devised his pull-through procedure. Moreover, he started to organize the general fight against cancer by a campaign to enlighten the public. Denk continued these activities. He founded the cancer research centre and initiated the present activities in the prevention and therapy of cancer in this country.