Klin Onkol 1999; 12(Suppl 1999): 1.
Dear collegues,
It is a great honour and pivilege for me to welcome you at the 5th Central European Congress of Coloproctology and Viscerosynthesis here in Brno. At this occasion, let me present you several selected lectures, which are to be presented at this meeting. The topics concern the most popular topics in malignant coloproctologic diseases: colon and rectal carcinoma (because of its frequency) and anal carcinoma (because of its low incidence and therefore difficult treatment). The prominent authors are both national and international, wellknown leading authorities.
We are really proud to be allowed to present their points of view in so very important fields of coloproctology and viscerosynthesis. We are really glad that by means of this extra issue of Archives of Oncology (Klinicka onkologie), this knowledge could be spread in so many countries, especially of so called "Eastern Europe".
Traditionally, people not only from Central Europe, but from other continents, too, meet here to exchange their knowledge, opinions and start friendly relations.
Our aim of the Congress and of this special issue is to compare the present state of knowledge of the most important fields in coloproctology, concerning the malignant diseases, i.e. colorectal carcinoma and anal carcinoma, including diagnosis, prognosis, adjuvant and surgical treatment.
It should be help to our colleagues not only in our country, but in other countries, too.For this reason, the invited lectures are strictly practical. However, it is desirable that all physicians and surgeons dealing with coloproctology should have an understanding of our present knowledge of other aspects of these diseases, so contributions dealing with such a topics as precanceroses and new technologies are included.
We have been fortunate enough to assemble a distinguished international team of contributors and it is a great plesure to have this opportunity to thank them.
I would like to take the opportunity here to thank all those who worked so hard in the preparation of this meeting and all our sponsors who made this event possible. The most important is, however, Your particular contribution with scientific reports and discussions during the sessions. We hope that our joint efforts will result in a succesful meting in the benefit of our patients with colorectal diseases.
We also thank the publishing staff of Klinicka onkologie for their cooperation. They have given us practical assistance, for which we are grateful, and we especially thank to their executives, with them it has been pleasure to work.
