NCIt definition : Surgical removal of part or all of the colon.;
Alternative definition : NCI-GLOSS: An operation to remove all or part of the colon. When only part of the
colon is removed, it is called a partial colectomy. In an open colectomy, one long
incision is made in the wall of the abdomen and doctors can see the colon directly.
In a laparoscopic-assisted colectomy, several small incisions are made and a thin,
lighted tube attached to a video camera is inserted through one opening to guide the
surgery. Surgical instruments are inserted through the other openings to perform the
surgery.;