What's new in surgical treatment of rectal cancer?

Rectal adenocarcinoma is a common cancer. Substantial advances in surgical technique and adjuvant treatments usually allow to preserve sphincter funct ion, without overruling oncologic surgery standards. Sexual function is usu ally preserved, except in patients with locally advanced tumors. There is s ound evidence that complete removal of the mesorectum and local radiation t herapy decrease the rate of local recurrences. Quality of functional result s after colorectal versus coloanal anastomosis is compared, and the contrib ution to patient comfort of construction of a reservoir is evaluated.