Background
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is very common and one of the leading cause of cancer related mortality worldwide. Laparoscopic colectomy has become an alternate approach to laparotomy for the treatment of patients with benign colonic conditions. However, oncological radicality and longterm outcome are main concerns and they have limited the adoption of laparoscopic surgery for CRC. The aim of this study is to compare short and long-term results of Laparoscopic and open surgery for curative resection of CRC.

Materials and Methods
Demographic characteristics and clinico-pathologic results of the patients who underwent curative resection for CRC were obtained prospectively. The patients were divided into two groups either open surgery (n: 79) or laparoscopic surgery (n:79). The groups were compared in terms of length of hospital stay (LOS), number of retriewed lymph nodes (RLN), postoperative morbidity, recurrence and survival. The results were given as count, percent and mean +/- standart deviation. Student-t test was used for the analysis of continious data and Kaplan-Meier test was used for the analysis of survival.

Result
There weren’t a significant difference in terms of age and stage of patients. LOS was shorter in laparoscopy group than open group, 13 and 18,8 days respectively. In addition, the number of RLN was more in laparoscopic group than in open group (17.6 vs 14.8). Postoperative complication rate was smaller in laparoscopy group.

Conclusion
Laparoscopic resection of CRC is associated with decreased LOS and postoperative complication rate. Surgery can be handled without compromising oncological principles in experienced hands.