Key Concepts

• Surgical resection of the primary tumor remains the cornerstone of treatment for stage I–III colon cancer and plays a role in treating surgically resectable stage IV disease.
• Extent of colectomy is based on the anatomic location of the tumor.
• Goals of resection are to achieve negative circumferential margins and to remove the mesentery at greatest risk for lymphatic spread.
• Examination of lymph nodes allows for accurate cancer staging, which is imperative for selection of patients for adjuvant therapy.