Better surgery and better selection for adjuvants: Still the key to improving outcomes in rectal cancer

In reviewing the current issues in rectal cancer management the word specialist recurs again and again. The modern hospital requires consultants with special interest in each of the key stages of decision making: Clinical assessment--usually the surgeon MRI. Fine slice individually orientated phased array coil studies with a specially trained radiologist. CT--now routine for metastases Neo-adjuvant therapy. Special interest in the disease in both clinical and medical oncology is essential.