Summary

Colorectal cancer is one of the most incident malignancies in Brazil and around the world. Methods of screening include fecal occult blood test or colonoscopy, and must be applied on high risk populations. Symptoms have low specificity and colonoscopy should be indicated in the presence of any intestinal signals or symptoms. The staging defines the modalities of treatment and it is guided by the most common pathways of dissemination: hematogenic, lymphatic, implants and local spread. When colorectal cancer is diagnosed in early stages, the treatment offers high rates of cure. This article describes the main modalities of treatment, stratified by colorectal cancer staging.