Resections

Resection is the surgical removal of part or all of an organ, tissue, or structure. It is used to treat cancer and benign disease, relieve symptoms, restore function, or obtain diagnostic tissue. Resections may be performed with curative intent, for palliation, or for diagnostic purposes.

Types include anatomical resections, which remove an entire anatomical unit along its natural borders; and nonanatomical or parenchyma-sparing resections, which target a lesion while preserving surrounding tissue. Common examples include hepatic resection (liver), pulmonary resection (lung), colectomy (colon), and pancreatic or gastric resections. Endoscopic resections, such as endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), are less invasive options for selected mucosal lesions.

Planning involves imaging, biopsy, and assessment of margins and nodes. Oncologic resections aim for tumor-free margins (R0); microscopic residual disease is R1, while macroscopic residual disease is R2. Procedures may be open or minimally invasive (laparoscopic or robotic) and are often followed by reconstruction, anastomosis, or diversion. Lymphadenectomy may accompany cancer resections when indicated.

Outcomes depend on disease type, stage, and margin status. Resections carry risks such as bleeding, infection, organ dysfunction, and anesthesia-related complications. When complete resection is not possible, debulking or palliative resections may still improve symptoms or survival and are often combined with systemic therapy or radiotherapy.