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institutionsInstitution
European Society of Surgical Oncology
Europe's surgical oncology society, which runs the ESSO congress and courses and sets the European curriculum and examination for cancer surgeons.
Also called: ESSO
Overview
Founded in 1981, ESSO promotes the highest standards of cancer surgery in Europe through its biennial congress (jointly with national societies), hands-on courses in minimally invasive, hepatobiliary, peritoneal and breast surgery, and the European Board of Surgery Qualification in surgical oncology that it runs with UEMS. It publishes the European Journal of Surgical Oncology and works with ESMO and ESTRO on multidisciplinary standards, with the European CanCer Organisation on the essential requirements for quality cancer care, and with the EORTC on surgical quality assurance in trials. ESSO's Young Surgeons and Alumni Club develops the next generation of cancer surgeons across Europe.
Location
Brussels, BE
Type
consortium
Website
Newsweek 2026 oncology rank
Not in top 300 listing used
OnCo score
#355 · 18 points (0 Newsweek + 0 NCI + 18 from 9 linked objects) · ranking
- ESSO Congress and courses
- European Board of Surgery Qualification (Surgical Oncology)
- European Journal of Surgical Oncology
- Surgical quality assurance in trials
Cornelis J. H. van de Velde
Emeritus Professor of Surgical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center
Colorectal surgeryTotal mesorectal excisionGastric cancer surgery
Surgeon who led the Dutch TME trial, proving standardised rectal surgery with radiotherapy cuts local recurrence.
Geerard Beets
President
Surgical oncologyColorectal cancerRectal cancer organ preservation
Colorectal surgeon and ESSO President, internationally known for watch-and-wait organ preservation in rectal cancer.
Isabel T. Rubio
Past-President
Breast surgical oncologyBreast cancerOncoplastic surgery
Breast surgeon and ESSO Past-President who heads breast surgical oncology at Clínica Universidad de Navarra in Madrid.
Alessandro Gronchi
Chair, Sarcoma Service, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori
Sarcoma surgeryRetroperitoneal sarcomaNeoadjuvant chemotherapy
Sarcoma surgeon who led the ISG-STS 1001 trial of histology-tailored neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Paolo Veronesi
Director, Breast Surgery, IEO; Professor, University of Milan
Breast surgerySentinel node biopsySurgical de-escalation
Breast surgeon leading the IEO programme founded by Umberto Veronesi, pioneer of breast conservation.
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