“Miscellaneous” Tumors of the Small Bowel and Colon and Rectum

V. Liana Tsikitis, MD, MCR

Colorectal surgeons frequently encounter patients presenting with rare neoplasms of the small bowel, colon, and rectum, and their treatments significantly differ from the more frequently encountered adenocarcinoma. These neoplasms may develop from epithelial, mesenchymal, and lymphoid tissues, and it is important to understand their biology to ensure that the patients receive the appropriate therapy.

The goal of this issue is to delve into those “rare” tumors, and provide state of the art information and understanding of the pathogenesis, treatment, and ongoing areas of research of these neoplasms. The authors are well-known experts in their fields, and have provided complete, detailed, and thought-provoking input for each topic covered in this issue. The readers will review small bowel adenocarcinomas and treatment, colorectal gastrointestinal tumors, range of all appendiceal tumors, controversies around the role of cytoreductive surgery, and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy for colorectal and appendiceal adenocarcinomas by one of the most recognized surgical teams in this field in the United States. In addition, a world-renown carcinoid expert will share cutting edge insight into small and large bowel carcinoids, and distinguished lymphoma researchers will shed light on the management of the rare colorectal lymphomas. This was a truly enjoyable labor of love for me, and I want to deeply thank all the authors for their devotion and extraordinary work. I consider myself privileged to consider them friends and colleagues.

I would like to particularly thank Dr. Scott Steele for giving me the opportunity to be the guest editor of this issue, for his unbounded energy, and inexhaustible dedication to the field of colorectal surgery which is contagious. I truly appreciate his mentorship and support.