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Mesenteric Considerations in Surgery of the Colon and Rectum

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The Mesenteric Organ in Health and Disease

Abstract

Surgical management of the mesocolon and mesorectum during colon and rectal resections is based upon the primary diagnosis. In general, complete excision is recommended during resections for malignancy but not required in benign disease. Crohn’s disease may benefit from a more radical mesenteric excision. Surgical embryology and anatomy have a key function for understanding optimal colon and rectal cancer surgery. The vascular anatomy determines the individual extent of resection depending on the location of the disease in colon and rectum. Due to potential lymph node spread, more comprehensive resections are necessary for tumors of the transverse colon, hepatic and splenic flexure. Pathology has to thoroughly evaluate individual quality of surgery and should report if mesorectum and mesocolon are intact and complete in the specimen. Total mesorectal excision (TME) and complete mesocolic excision (CME) describe valid standards of good quality rectal and colon cancer surgery.

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Correspondence to Hermann Kessler .

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Kessler, H., Camargo, M.G.M., Crowell, K.T. (2021). Mesenteric Considerations in Surgery of the Colon and Rectum. In: Ehrenpreis, E.D., Alverdy, J.C., Wexner, S.D. (eds) The Mesenteric Organ in Health and Disease. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71963-0_36

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71963-0_36

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