2013.COM Chirurgia Oncologica Mini-Invasiva

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

It is again my pleasure to kindly invite you to participate in the new edition of a oneday intensive scientific meeting, which I organize every year at the "A. Gemelli" University Hospital in Rome. This time the name of the event is "2013.COM", where COM stands in Italian for "Chirurgia Oncologica Mini-Invasiva" ( Minimally Invasive Surgical Oncology).

From the beginning in 2004, this meeting has been gaining a wider perspective and since the "2010.COM" it has definitely become and is considered as an international scientific event.

This year the "2013.COM" will be joined with the "1st International Advanced Course on Upper G.I. Surgical Oncology",issued by ESSO (European Society of Surgical Oncology) and also supported by the Italian Society of Surgical Oncology (SICO - ESSO affiliated).

The topics of "2013.COM" will include a mix of skills and knowledge, thus representing a COMpetence Forum on current and mini-invasive treatment options for oesophago-gastric tumors. The organizing committee is proud about the participation of an exceptional International Faculty, presenting a combination of technical VIDEO-notes and updated lectures on the meeting’s topics.

Following our traditional logo style, once again we have chosen a "Red Pepper", which symbolizes the two parts of a unique organ system (oesophagus, EG-junction and stomach), which are not cut with scissors and scalpel anymore, but nowadays with the latest technological devices.

I would personally like to thank all the Speakers and Discussants who accepted to take part in this meeting.

Their participation in this Course is not only due to their proficiency and their active role in the main International Surgical Societies, but it is also an opportunity for me to demonstrate to them my highest regards.

I look forward to welcoming and hosting you in Rome on next November 22nd 2013.

Domenico D’Ugo
Chairman