Local resection of early rectal cancer

The introduction of the National Danish screening programme for colorectal cancer will result in the detection of more early rectal cancers ( ERC ), which may be considered for local excision. For the low risk ≤T1 cancer, the oncological outcome at local excision in smaller patient series has shown similar results to conventional surgery, but with a significantly lower rate of serious complications, morbidity and mortality. The challenge is correct preoperative staging, and a meticulous systematic histopathological staging of the excised specimen to distinguish the low risk from high‐risk cases, where rescue surgery may be considered. The establishment of a regional or national clinical database is necessary to improve the local treatment of ERC .