Laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of colon cancer: the new standard?

OBJECTIVE: Colon cancer is a major health problem worldwide with an overall 5-year survival rate of < 50%. Despite advances in the field of oncology proving that adjuvant chemotherapy may improve the outcome. the only treatment with curative intent is represented by surgical resection of the tumor. Over the past 30 years, surgical techniques for the treatment of colon cancer have improved considerably. Major doubts regarding the radicality of the resection and the long-term outcome have been overcome lately. The main objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of colon cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our goal with this paper was to conduct a narrative review of the literature about laparoscopic treatment in colon cancer and outline the essential principles of the procedure. RESULTS: We found that laparoscopic resection has advantages over open surgery. These advantages include a shorter hospital stay. reduced incidence of surgical site infection, earlier return of bowel movements, and less immune suppression. As surgical centers with higher volume have very low complication rates, patients proposed for laparoscopic colonic resection for cancer should be referred to these hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery is an important option in the radical treatment of colon cancer that can be used routinely and safely.