Operations of choice for cancers of the colon and rectum. An overview.

Despite proven guidelines, rational management proposals, and effective surgical therapies, surgical resections not in accord with national norms continue to be used. Refinement of existing knowledge can improve the marginal results of the past. A simple overview is presented. Management of cancer of the cecum, ascending colon, hepatic and splenic flexures, transverse colon, descending, sigmoid, and rectosigmoid colon are graphically presented. Multiple large bowel polyps, chronic ulcerative colitis with tendency to neoplasia, and multiple polyposis are briefly discussed as to proper surgical management. A similar succinct overview of individual polyp management is diagrammatically shown. Cancer management of the rectum including adenocarcinoma, squamous cell, cloacogenic and villous tumors are shown as well as the management of basal cell and squamous cell lesions of the anal verge.