Surgery and advanced abdominal malignancy

Abstract

Medical practitioners face the problem of patients` abdominal malignancy, a problem which is divided into two major parts, in the first, we have those patients who present with fresh clinical problems which at first appear to be hopelessly advanced abdominal cancer. In the second group are patients who have already undergone what was hoped to have been curative resection of an abdominal cancer, but who now return with clinical features which suggest recurrence of the disease. The importance of laparotomy as crucial part of the treatment to abdominal malignancy is highlighted. Furthermore, it is advisable that a list of criteria needs to be taken into consideration before proceeding to radiotherapy or chemotherapy.