Consensus statement of definitions for anorectal physiology and rectal cancer^*

Abstract

Introduction from the Editor An international working party co‐ordinated by Dr Ann Lowry, University of Minnesota, was charged with the task of producing definitions of terms applicable to anorectal physiology and rectal cancer. The consensus achieved is published below and will simultaneously appear in Diseases of Colon and Rectum and in the Australian New Zealand Journal of Surgery. It is essential that there is uniformity in descriptions and it is hoped that the Statement will be generally adopted and become standard terminology .