Colon and rectal surgery deals with the intestinal tract, the colon, rectum and anal canal. A colon and rectal surgeon diagnoses and treats various diseases of these areas of the body by medical and surgical means. This specialist may deal with other organs and tissues that are affected by intestinal disease, such as the liver, urinary, and female reproductive system.

A colon and rectal surgeon can also diagnose and manage conditions such as hemorrhoids, abscesses and fistulae (infections located around the anus and rectum), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other inflammatory conditions. They also use technical procedures to evaluate and treat cancer, polyps, and other anorectal diseases.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. The United States has 1,451 practicing colon & rectal surgeons. Broken out by state, colon & rectal surgery doctor density in Alabama is 20, in Alaska is 3, in Arizona is 27, in Arkansas is 8, in California is 156, in Colorado is 13, in Connecticut is 33, in Delaware is 6, in District of Columbia is 12, in Florida is 117, in Georgia is 49, in Hawaii is 4, in Idaho is 3, in Illinois is 61, in Indiana is 40, in Iowa is 8, in Kansas is 10, in Kentucky is 22, in Louisiana is 24, in Maine is 10, in Maryland is 26, in Massachusetts is 39, in Michigan is 73, in Minnesota is 51, in Mississippi is 3, in Missouri is 39, in Nebraska is 9, in Nevada is 4, in New Hampshire is 5, in New Jersey is 72, in New Mexico is 7, in New York is 166, in North Carolina is 21, in North Dakota is 1, in Ohio is 81, in Oklahoma is 17, in Oregon is 16, in Pennsylvania is 99, in Rhode Island is 10, in South Carolina is 22, in South Dakota is 1, in Tennessee is 26, in Texas is 120, in Utah is 10, in Vermont is 3, in Virginia is 43, in Washington is 33, in West Virginia is 7, in Wisconsin is 20, and in Wyoming is 1.