American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons

The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) is a medical professional society representing more than 1,000 board certified colon and rectal surgeons and other surgeons. The Society’s membership is dedicated to advancing and promoting the science and practice of the treatment of individuals with diseases and disorders affecting the colon, rectum, and anus. The Society’s Standards Task Force is committed to developing practice parameters for the treatment of colon and rectal diseases and disorders including ambulatory anorectal surgery, treatment of hemorrhoids, management of anal fissure, treatment of rectal carcinoma, and detection of colorectal neoplasms. The Society’s web site provides links to such practice parameters as well as to core subject updates on such topics as colonic volvulus, ostomies and stomal therapy, familial adenomatous polyposis, and colon and rectal cancer. The Society also publishes the “Washington Report,” which offers updates on current federal legislative and regulatory actions, and provides professional publications including the “ASCRS Newsletter” and the Society’s official journal entitled “Diseases of the Colon & Rectum.” The ASCRS also provides an email discussion group (listserv) for the benefit of ASCRS members and fellows in colon and rectal surgery. The primary purpose of the listserv is to provide a forum for the informal discussion of clinical cases and other issues of general interest to the colon and rectal surgeon community. The Society’s web site also provides information on the Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Colorectal Cancer. The Group was established in 1995 to improve understanding of the basic science of inherited colorectal cancer and the clinical management of affected families. Its broad aims are to promote education of physicians, allied health care professionals, patients, and their families; provide linkage to clinical and chemoprevention trials; promote the integration of molecular and clinical research at local and national levels; and serve as a resource for developing similar genetic registers. The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons also provides patient information on a variety of topics including anal abscess/fistula, anal fissure, anal warts, bowel incontinence, colonoscopy, colorectal cancer, constipation, Crohn’s disease, diverticular disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ostomy, rectal prolapse, and ulcerative colitis.