A surgical resection is the only curative treatment modality for localized colon cancer. The goal of surgical resection of primary colon cancer is complete removal of the tumor, the major vascular pedicles, and the lymphatic drainage basin of the affected colonic segment. The surgical management of the primary in patients with localized colon cancer is reviewed in this article. PREOPERATIVE STAGING For many patients, the diagnosis of colon cancer is made based upon biopsy of a polyp or polyps at the time of a screening colonoscopy .
For others, the diagnosis is made because of symptoms such as occult gastrointestinal bleeding or abdominal pain. The standard practice should be, that all patients with stage II, III, or IV colon cancer undergo staging CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis prior to or following resection if not possible beforehand, such as in complicated disease. In…
