Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

What Is the History of Rectal Cancer Treatment?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Multidisciplinary Management of Rectal Cancer

  • 1015 Accesses

Abstract

Rectal cancer treatment has improved dramatically since the end of the nineteenth century. Although we owe a great deal to advances in technology and patient care, the driving force behind this has predominantly been the understanding of the natural history of the disease. Improved surgical techniques based on recognition of anatomical and pathologic principles as well as multimodal treatment strategies have reduced mortality from 100% to less than 4% for locally advanced rectal cancer. In order to understand the basis of modern rectal cancer treatment, it is necessary to recognize the achievements of the early pioneers in the past.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Viso L, Uriach J (1995) The first twenty operations for rectal cancer. Int J Color Dis 10(3):167–168

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Classic Articles in Colonic and Rectal Surgery (1983) Jean Zulema Amussat, 1796–1855. Notes on the possible establishment of an artificial anus in the lumbar region without entering the peritoneal cavity. Dis Colon Rectum 26(7):483–487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Faget J (1743) Remarques sur les abces qui arrivent au fondamont.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Lisfranc J (1833) Mémoire sur l'éxcision de la partie inférieure du rectum devenue carcinomateuse

    Google Scholar 

  5. Billroth T (1881) Clinical surgery. The New Sydenham Society, London

    Google Scholar 

  6. Lockhard-Mummery JP (1926) Two hundred cases of cancer of the rectum treated by perineal excision. Br J Surg 14:110–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Mandle F (1929) Über 1000 sakrale Mastdarmkrebsextirpationen (aus dem Hocheneggisches Material). Dtsch Z Chir 219

    Google Scholar 

  8. Quénu E, Hartmann H (1899) Chirurgie du rectum. G. Steinheil, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  9. Cripps H (1890) Diseases of the rectum and the anus, 2nd edn. Churchill, London

    Google Scholar 

  10. Miles WE (1971) A method of performing abdomino-perineal excision for carcinoma of the rectum and of the terminal portion of the pelvic colon (1908). CA Cancer J Clin 21(6):361–364

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Miles WE (1913) A lecture on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer of the rectum: delivered at the Cancer Hospital, Brompton, on 22 January 1913. Br Med J 1(2717):166–168

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Lange MM, Rutten HJ, van de Velde CJ (2009) One hundred years of curative surgery for rectal cancer: 1908–2008. Eur J Surg Oncol 35(5):456–463

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Dukes CE, BUSSEY HJ (1958) The spread of rectal cancer and its effect on prognosis. Br J Cancer 12(3):309–320

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Dixon CF, LICHTMAN AL (1946) Anterior resection for malignant lesions of the upper part of the rectum and lower part of the sigmoid. Collect Papers Mayo Clinic Mayo Found 37:100

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Steichen FM, Ravitch MM (1982) History of mechanical devices and instruments for suturing. Curr Probl Surg 19(1):1–52

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Quirke P, Durdey P, Dixon MF, Williams NS (1986) Local recurrence of rectal adenocarcinoma due to inadequate surgical resection. Histopathological study of lateral tumour spread and surgical excision. Lancet 2(8514):996–999

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Havenga K, DeRuiter MC, Enker WE, Welvaart K (1996) Anatomical basis of autonomic nerve-preserving total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer. Br J Surg 83(3):384–388

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Heald RJ, Husband EM, Ryall RD (1982) The mesorectum in rectal cancer surgery – the clue to pelvic recurrence? Br J Surg 69(10):613–616

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Junginger T, Kneist W, Heintz A (2003) Influence of identification and preservation of pelvic autonomic nerves in rectal cancer surgery on bladder dysfunction after total mesorectal excision. Dis Colon Rectum 46(5):621–628

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Mynster T, Nielsen HJ, Harling H, Bulow S (2004) Blood loss and transfusion after total mesorectal excision and conventional rectal cancer surgery. Color Dis 6(6):452–457

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Hojo K, Vernava AM III, Sugihara K, Katumata K (1991) Preservation of urine voiding and sexual function after rectal cancer surgery. Dis Colon Rectum 34(7):532–539

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Moriya Y, Sugihara K, Akasu T, Fujita S (1995) Nerve-sparing surgery with lateral node dissection for advanced lower rectal cancer. Eur J Cancer 31A(7-8):1229–1232

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Enker WE (1992) Potency, cure, and local control in the operative treatment of rectal cancer. Arch Surg 127(12):1396–1401

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Havenga K, Enker WE (2002) Autonomic nerve preserving total mesorectal excision. Surg Clin North Am 82(5):1009–1018

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Guren MG, Eriksen MT, Wiig JN et al (2005) Quality of life and functional outcome following anterior or abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer. Eur J Surg Oncol 31(7):735–742

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Vironen JH, Kairaluoma M, Aalto AM, Kellokumpu IH (2006) Impact of functional results on quality of life after rectal cancer surgery. Dis Colon Rectum 49(5):568–578

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Jacobs M, Verdeja JC, Goldstein HS (1991) Minimally invasive colon resection (laparoscopic colectomy). Surg Laparosc Endosc 1(3):144–150

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Bonjer HJ, Deijen CL, Haglind E (2015) a randomized trial of laparoscopic versus open surgery for rectal cancer. N Engl J Med 373(2):194

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Buess G, Theiss R, Gunther M, Hutterer F, Pichlmaier H (1985) Transanal endoscopic microsurgery. Leber Magen Darm 15(6):271–279

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Ratto C, Ricci R, Valentini V et al (2006) Neoplastic mesorectal microfoci (MMF) following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: clinical and prognostic implications. Ann Surg Oncol 13(11):1393–1402

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Habr-Gama A, Perez RO, Nadalin W et al (2005) Long-term results of preoperative chemoradiation for distal rectal cancer correlation between final stage and survival. J Gastrointest Surg 9(1):90–99

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Engelen SM, Maas M, Lahaye MJ et al (2013) Modern multidisciplinary treatment of rectal cancer based on staging with magnetic resonance imaging leads to excellent local control, but distant control remains a challenge. Eur J Cancer 49(10):2311–2320

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Gerard JP, Ayzac L, Coquard R et al (1996) Endocavitary irradiation for early rectal carcinomas T1 (T2). A series of 101 patients treated with the Papillon’s technique. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 34(4):775–783

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Galler AS, Petrelli NJ, Shakamuri SP (2011) Rectal cancer surgery: a brief history. Surg Oncol 20(4):223–230

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Kapiteijn E, Marijnen CA, Nagtegaal ID et al (2001) Preoperative radiotherapy combined with total mesorectal excision for resectable rectal cancer. N Engl J Med 345(9):638–646

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Marijnen CA, van de Velde CJ, Putter H et al (2005) Impact of short-term preoperative radiotherapy on health-related quality of life and sexual functioning in primary rectal cancer: report of a multicenter randomized trial. J Clin Oncol 23(9):1847–1858

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Peeters KC, van de Velde CJ, Leer JW et al (2005) Late side effects of short-course preoperative radiotherapy combined with total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: increased bowel dysfunction in irradiated patients – a Dutch colorectal cancer group study. J Clin Oncol 23(25):6199–6206

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Lahaye MJ, Engelen SM, Nelemans PJ et al (2005) Imaging for predicting the risk factors – the circumferential resection margin and nodal disease – of local recurrence in rectal cancer: a meta-analysis. Semin Ultrasound CT MR 26(4):259–268

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leiden University Medical Center (The Netherlands), Department of Surgery, Leiden, The Netherlands

    M. M. Lange MD PhD

  2. Department of Surgery, Catharina Ziekenhuis Eindhoven, 5602, ZA, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    H. J. T. Rutten

Authors
  1. M. M. Lange MD PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. J. T. Rutten
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. M. Lange MD PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Radiation Oncology, Università Cattolica S Cuore, Rome, Italy

    Vincenzo Valentini

  2. Head, Div. Clinical Oncology Research, University Clinic Halle (Saale), Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany

    Hans-Joachim Schmoll

  3. Department of Surgery, Leiden Univ Med Ctr, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Cornelis J. H. van de Velde

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Lange, M.M., Rutten, H.J.T. (2018). What Is the History of Rectal Cancer Treatment?. In: Valentini, V., Schmoll, HJ., van de Velde, C. (eds) Multidisciplinary Management of Rectal Cancer. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43217-5_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43217-5_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-43215-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-43217-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation