Surgical procedures for carcinoma of the rectum. A historical review.

A review of the development of surgical procedures for the treatment of carcinoma of the rectum is presented. There have been very few truly new techniques offered in recent years; instead many of the older methods have been revived. This brief review of some of the important contributions made in this field may be of interest to today's surgeons. This discussion will concern the various approaches including perineal, abdominoperineal, abdominal, sacral, abdominosacral, abdominoanal, and vaginal approaches and local resections.