Main content Bowel Resection for Colorectal Cancer

    Bowel Resection for Colorectal Cancer



    Surgery Overview

    Resection is another name for any operation that removes tissue or part of an organ. Bowel resection, also called partial colectomy, for Reference colorectal cancer Opens New Window removes the tumor and part of the colon or rectum on either side.

    The goal of bowel resection is to take out the part of the colon or rectum where the cancer is. Nearby Reference lymph nodes Opens New Window are taken out and tested for cancer. Then healthy parts of the colon or rectum are sewn back together. Bowel resection is done either by opening the abdomen (open resection) or by Reference laparoscopy Opens New Window.

    View the Reference slideshow on bowel resection Opens New Window Reference Click here to see an illustration. Opens New Window to see what happens during this surgery.



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