Is there a surgical oncology?

First, surgical oncology is not recognized universally as a distinct discipline within surgery. Second, those surgeons who regard themselves as surgical oncologists fall into two broad but distinct groups: those who regard themselves as general surgical oncologists, able to operate on most solid tumors, with a minimal practice in benign pathology; and those surgeons who are anatomical site specific, and retain the remit to treat patients with complex benign disorders relating to their organ of interest. Although the perceived trend is towards the latter group, general surgical oncology will remain for the foreseeable future because of the nature and needs of health-care delivery worldwide (particularly in countries with developing economies).