Colon cancer: the importance of surgical quality and the multidisciplinary team

Surgery remains one of the fundamental pillars of curative treatment for colon cancer. However, it is not just about "removing a tumour": the quality of the surgery directly influences staging, the indication for complementary treatments and long-term oncological outcomes.

An international standard of surgical quality in colon cancer

In the article published in Frontiers in Surgery, Dr. Patricia Tejedor participates as a co-author in an international collaboration focused on defining and promoting the current standards of surgical quality in colon cancer. The work reviews key aspects such as adequate resection margins, correct lymphadenectomy and complete mesocolic excision, all of them essential elements for excellence in oncological surgery.

What a well-performed surgery means in practice

These concepts, although technical, have a very clear translation for the patient: surgery that is well planned and performed according to oncological criteria increases the chances of disease control and allows subsequent treatments to be tailored more effectively.

• Adequate resection margins: removing the tumour with enough healthy tissue around it to reduce the risk of recurrence.
• Correct lymphadenectomy: removing and analysing a sufficient number of lymph nodes, which improves staging and the decision about chemotherapy.
• Complete mesocolic excision (CME): a technique that respects the correct anatomical planes for an oncologically complete resection.

Quality does not depend on the operating room alone: the multidisciplinary team

But surgical quality does not depend solely on the operative act. It requires a coordinated multidisciplinary team, in which colorectal surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, gastroenterologists, anaesthetists, specialist nurses and other professionals work together to assess each case, plan the best strategy and support the patient throughout the entire process.

In our unit we promote this model of care: technically rigorous surgery, integrated within an expert team and focused on results. Because in oncology, quality does not depend on a single decision, but on an entire team working towards the same goal.

This approach connects with how we prepare each patient before surgery: from prehabilitation to choosing a centre with proven experience in oncological surgery.

Original article: Oncologic standards in colon cancer resection: from margins to lymph node yield and mesentery. Frontiers in Surgery (2026). Read the full study.