Impact of surgical treatment on quality of life of patients with gastrointestinal tumors

Quality-of-life assessment is becoming an important concern even of surgeon s. The new trend applies specifically to surgical oncology, where particula r attention is now being paid to the outcome of surgical treatment. Gastroi ntestinal cancers are heterogeneous in their presentation and in treatment, but they share common aspects related to the surgical approach. A function al outcome is fundamental in all the operations performed for gastrointesti nal cancers and many improvements have been made thanks to the increased ra te of conservative approaches and the amelioration of the technology applie d to surgery. The measurement of the surgical outcome and the methods to be applied is still undergoing extensive evaluation but the flourishing inter est in the issues concerning quality of life all over the surgical communit y will rapidly lead to a better definition of goals and results.