The role of laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer is currently unclear, with little supportive evidence from randomized trials. A study by Ng et al. in a large series of patients with rectal cancer has shown that laparoscopic resection is safe with good long-term outcomes.
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Weiser, M., Saltz, L. Apples and oranges: the low and mid versus the upper rectum. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 6, 385–386 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2009.86
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2009.86