Laparoscopic colorectal surgery and cancer.

Laparoscopy has become a part of the surgeon's armamentarium in benign colorectal diseases. Expected advantages include better cosmesis, shorter hospital stay and earlier return to preoperative status than similar open surgery. The advisability of performing laparoscopy for cure of colorectal malignancy has been challenged because the recurrence rates and overall cure rates remain unknown. Therefore, laparoscopy for colorectal cancer should be offered within the confines of a prospective randomized trial in order to resolve these issues.