Includes Index

Minimally Invasive Surgical Oncology: State-of-the-Art Cancer Management offers
a unique compendium of the current knowledge and applied techniques in treating
cancer with a minimally invasive approach. It is a comprehensive text trying to cover
all fields in oncology where minimally invasive surgery is currently used. The book
is divided into two sections. Section one covers general topics ranging from historical
aspects of the field to research in oncology, covering topics like residency training
and includes contributions special to oncology like immunology and changes in
elderly patients. Section two is subdivided into 25 chapters, organ-based, covering all
aspects of minimally invasive surgery in the cancer patient in a unique way. At the
end of each chapter the reader will find a section about future trends and a quick reference guide to the specific topic and procedure. More so, the accompanying DVD
offers tips and tricks by experts in the field explaining their surgical approach in a
step-by-step fashion.
The ever growing field of minimally invasive surgery in combination with a better
understanding of the consequent immunological and pathophysiologic changes has
led to applications of minimally invasive approaches to maximally invasive disease
processes. Over almost 2 decades, this field has rapidly evolved and there is almost
no disease process and organ which has not been addressed. Despite this, oncologic
diseases have always been addressed with great reservation and, for a long time, it
was thought that cure could only be safely achieved with traditional open surgery.
When we first talked about the concept of the book we quickly realized that there
is no existing book focused on the topic. All that was available were surgical atlases,
case reports, and some randomized studies, particularly for covering colorectal malignancies. There was no clear guide of how to apply these techniques with maximal
short- and long-term benefit to cancer patients. Our goal was to give the reader a better understanding of how the proven advantages of minimally invasive surgery could
factor into an individualized surgical treatment plan, understanding that management
of cancer is always multidisciplinary.
Minimally Invasive Surgical Oncology: State-of-the-Art Cancer Management
brings together the expertise of not only experts but true leaders and pioneers in the
field. It provides clear explanations of all surgical procedures as outlined in the table
of contents but is, by far, more than just another surgical atlas. Current nonsurgical
therapies, future trends, and alternative procedures are discussed with a quick reference guide and a multimedia section. We hope that the unique structure of this book will particularly be helpful to those engaged in treating oncological patients, contribute to a wider acceptance of the application of minimally invasive techniques in
malignancies and might open up new avenues for future research.