Although attempts at radical removal of cancers of the rectum had been performed earlier, it was not until W. E. Miles in 1908 re ported his experience in the management of cancer in this ana tomic part, that the combined abdominoperineal resection be came the recognized and accepted approach for the treatment of this cancer. Miles reasoned that proctectomy removed the cancer, bearing a segment oflarge bowel but also the regional lymphatics into which the cancer spread, not only proximally, but laterally and distally as well. In his monograph in 1926 he stated: . . . There are, I hold, two...
Although attempts at radical removal of cancers of the rectum had been performed earlier, it was not until W. E. Miles in 1908 re ported his experienc...
