Newest Challenges and Advances in the Treatment of Colorectal Disorders; From Predictive Biomarkers to Minimally Invasive Techniques

Book excerpt: Colorectal disorders have come to the forefront of modern endoscopic and minimally invasive surgery due to the significant incidence rates and effects on patient quality of life (QoL). Heralded by the rising diagnosis rates of early-onset colorectal cancer, surgical techniques on resection, lymph node harvesting, and bowel anastomosis have been rapidly advancing, in parallel to more minimally invasive approaches such as stenting, tattooing and endoscopic resection. While the role of the colorectal specialist surgeon is central in treating benign and malignant colorectal disease, we must further study the role of novel biomarkers, tumor genomics and proteomics, as well as the use of less invasive methods with regards to the prognosis and outcomes of such patients.