Rectal cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers world-wide. It is also a paradigm for multimodal management, as the combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy is often necessary to achieve the optimal outcome. Recently, international experts met in Heidelberg, Germany to discuss the latest developments in the management of rectal cancer, including the anatomic and pathologic basis, staging tools, surgical concepts including fast-track surgery and laparoscopic resection, functional outcome after surgery and the role of radio- and chemotherapy. This monograph summarizes this meeting and gives an extensive overview of the current concepts in management of rectal cancer.

Postoperative Pathophysiology and Choice of Incision

Fast-Track Colonic Surgery: Status and Perspectives
Fast-Track Surgery: The Heidelberg Experience
Rectal Cancer: A Compartmental Disease. The Mesorectum and Mesorectal Lymph Nodes
The Pathological Assessment of Total Mesorectal Excision: What Are the Relevant Resection Margins?
Is the Lateral Lymph Node Compartment Relevant?
Diagnostics of Rectal Cancer: Endorectal Ultrasound
Preoperative Staging of Rectal Cancer: The MERCURY Research Project
Rectal Cancer Management: Europe Is Ahead
Teaching Efforts to Spread TME Surgery in Sweden
Learning Curve: The Surgeon as a Prognostic Factor in Colorectal Cancer Surgery
Surgical Results of Total Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer in a Specialised Colorectal Unit
Total Mesorectal Excision: The Heidelberg Results after TME
Is Local Excision of T2/T3 Rectal Cancers Adequate?
Operative Treatment of Locally Recurrent Rectal Cancer
Laparoscopic TME: Better Vision, Better Results?
Laparoscopic TME-The Surgeon's or the Patient's Preference
Laparoscopic Total Mesorectal Excision-The Turin Experience
Evacuation of Neorectal Reservoirs after TME
Long-Term Functional Results After Straight or Colonic J-Pouch Coloanal Anastomosis
Urinary and Sexual Function After Total Mesorectal Excision
Functional Results of the Colon J-Pouch Versus Transverse Coloplasty Pouch in Heidelberg
Indications for Neoadjuvant Long-Term Radiotherapy
Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy and Radiochemotherapy for Rectal Cancer
Adjuvant Radiochemotherapy for Rectal Cancer
Intraoperative Radiotherapy for Rectal Carcinoma
Indications and Effect on Survival of Standard Chemotherapy in Advanced Colorectal Cancer
New Chemotherapeutic Strategies in Colorectal Cancer
ActiveSpecific Immunotherapy in Colon Cancer
Radiofrequency Ablation in Metastatic Disease.