Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of mortality in the West, and rectal cancer accounts for about 25% of the colon cancers. The concept of total mesothelial excision (TME) was the most important event in surgery for rectal cancer of the last two decades, because even without a curative approach, it reduced local recurrence and extended 5-year survival.
Key words: rectal cancer, TME, mesorectum, CRM, Circumferential Resection Line.
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