Surgical oncology

Surgical oncology is the branch of surgery which focuses on the surgical management of malignant neoplasms (cancer).

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Whether surgical oncology constitutes a medical specialty per se is the topic of a heated debate. Today, some would agree that it is simply impossible for any one surgeon to be competent in the surgical management of all malignant disease. However, there are currently 14 surgical oncology fellowship training programs in the United States that have been approved by the Society of Surgical Oncology. While many general surgeons are actively involved in treating patients with malignant neoplasms, the designation of "surgical oncologist" is generally reserved for those surgeons who have completed one of the approved fellowship programs. However, this is a matter of semantics, as many surgeons who are thoroughly involved in treating cancer patients may consider themselves to be surgical oncologists.

Most often, surgical oncologist refers to a general surgical oncologist (cf. General Surgery), but thoracic surgical oncologists, gynecologic oncologists and so forth can all be considered surgeons who specialize in treating cancer patients.

The importance of training surgeons who sub-specialize in cancer surgery lies in evidence, supported by a number of clinical trials, that outcomes in surgical cancer care are positively associated to surgeon volume -- i.e. the more cancer cases a surgeon treats, the more proficient he becomes, and his or her patients experience improved survival rates as a result. This is another controversial point, but it is generally accepted -- even as common sense -- that a surgeon who performs a given operation more often, will achieve superior results when compared with a surgeon who rarely performs the same procedure. This is particularly true of cancer resections such as pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure) for pancreatic cancer, and gastrectomy with extended (D2) lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer.

The specialty of Surgical Oncology has evolved in steps similar to Medical Oncology out of Hematology and Radiation Oncology out of Radiology. The Ewing Society known today as the Society of Surgical Oncology was started by surgeons interested in promoting the field of oncology. Though is not blessed by a specialty Board certification, the area of expertise is coming to its own by the success of combined treatment with chemotherapy, radiation and targeted biologic treatments. The proliferation of cancer centers will further popularize the field as will developments in minimally invasive techniques, palliative surgery, neoadjuvant treatments and cancer prevention.