Cancer3.AICancer TherapiesSurgery › Tumor resection

Tumor resection

Tumor resection is an operation to remove the whole tumor, usually together with a margin of surrounding healthy tissue and sometimes nearby lymph nodes. It offers the greatest benefit when the cancer is a solid tumor confined to one area of the body, and it is frequently combined with treatments given before or after the operation. The removed tissue is examined under a microscope to check whether the margins are clear of cancer cells.

How it works

In a traditional open operation the surgeon makes one larger incision and removes the tumor, some healthy tissue around it, and sometimes nearby lymph nodes. Taking a margin of healthy tissue lowers the chance that cancer cells are left behind, and examining the removed lymph nodes shows whether the disease has begun to spread — information that helps plan further treatment. Because surgery is a local treatment, it removes cancer only from the area that is operated on. As with any operation there are risks, including pain, bleeding, infection, and reactions to anesthesia, and recovery involves wound care, pain management, and follow-up visits.

Used in

Lung & Bronchus C33-C34

standard treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer in operable patients

Invasive Breast Carcinoma C50

breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy is the basis of treatment for early disease

Colon, Rectum & Anal Canal C18-C21

resection of the bowel segment with regional lymph nodes is the basis of radical treatment

Malignant Melanoma C43

wide local excision is the basis of treatment for the primary lesion

Urinary Bladder C67

transurethral resection for non-muscle-invasive tumours; radical cystectomy in muscle-invasive disease

Thyroid C73

thyroidectomy (total or lobectomy) is the primary treatment

Pancreas C25

resection (e.g. pancreatoduodenectomy) is the only potentially curative treatment in resectable disease

Kidney C64

partial or radical nephrectomy is the standard for organ-confined tumours

Stomach C16

gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy is the basis of radical treatment

Liver & Intrahepatic Bile Ducts C22

partial hepatectomy in early disease with preserved liver function

Oesophagus C15

esophagectomy is the basis of radical treatment in operable patients

Uterine Cervix C53

radical hysterectomy is standard in early-stage disease

Where this therapy is delivered

Sources

  1. NCI – Surgery to Treat Cancer ↗