Colorectal cancer: what the clinician wants to know

Colorectal cancer is a common and lethal disease. The adenoma-carcinoma sequence offers a window of opportunity in which the precursor lesion or early carcinoma can be removed endoscopically to prevent systemic disease. New and advanced techniques to improve endoscopic detection of precursor lesions are being developed. Other, less invasive screening methods are currently being developed and may become of use for population-based screening in the near future. Recently, important developments in the treatment (both surgical and chemotherapeutic) of colorectal cancer have occurred. The extent of the disease (stage) forms the basis for therapeutic decisions and accurate imaging is crucial