Local resection of early rectal cancer.

The introduction of the National Danish screening programme for colorectal cancer will result in the detection of more early rectal cancers (ERC), which may be considered for local excision. For the low risk≤T1 cancer, the oncological outcome at local excision in smaller patient series has shown similar results to conventional surgery, but with a significantly lower rate of serious complications, morbidity and mortality. The challenge is correct preoperative staging, and a meticulous systematic histopathological staging of the excised specimen to distinguish the low risk from high-risk cases, where rescue surgery may be considered. The establishment of a regional or national clinical database is necessary to improve the local treatment of ERC.