Carcinoma of the rectum

The publication offers a comprehensive overview of the latest findings in evidence-based medicine. Various aspects of rectal cancer are presented – from the historical overview through etiopathogenesis and diagnosis of the disease, individual treatment modalities with emphasis on surgical techniques to the issue of intestinal stomas.

Emphasis is placed on problematic areas of medical management: the position of radiotherapy in multimodal therapy of rectal cancer, laparoscopic and robotic resection of the rectum, transanal total mesorectal excision, functional disorders after low resection of the rectum (LARS syndrome), modern treatment strategies of the type „ watch and wait“ or „ liverfirst“, perioperative ERAS care (enhanced recovery after surgery), quality of life and complications related to intestinal stomas, adequate histopathological examination of the resected rectum, etc.

In the monograph, the indications, benefits and limitations of individual therapeutic modalities in the management of various stages of the disease (transanal and transabdominal resection techniques, radiotherapy, systemic treatment, local ablative techniques) are reviewed. The publication identifies key factors influencing treatment outcomes and helps to understand the critical importance of close interdisciplinary collaboration.

The text is accompanied by 140 instructional diagrams, figures and tables. The monograph aims to answer current professional questions about rectal cancer and to provide insights that will enable us to make the best clinical decisions for the benefit of patients with rectal cancer.