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MSDMerck ManualProfessional Version
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Staging Colorectal Cancer*

Staging Colorectal Cancer*

Stage

Tumor (Maximum Penetration)

Regional Lymph Node Metastasis

Distant Metastasis

0

Tis

N0

M0

I

T1 or T2

N0

M0

II

T3–T4

N0

M0

III

Any T

N1–N2

M0

IV

Any T

Any N

M1

* TNM classification:

  • Tis = carcinoma in situ; T1 = submucosa; T2 = muscularis propria; T3 = penetrates all layers (for rectal cancer, includes perirectal tissue); T4 = adjacent organs or peritoneum.

  • N0 = none; N1 = 1–3 regional nodes or any number of tumor deposits without nodal involvement; N2 = ≥ 4 regional nodes.

  • M0 = none; M1 = present.

* TNM classification:

  • Tis = carcinoma in situ; T1 = submucosa; T2 = muscularis propria; T3 = penetrates all layers (for rectal cancer, includes perirectal tissue); T4 = adjacent organs or peritoneum.

  • N0 = none; N1 = 1–3 regional nodes or any number of tumor deposits without nodal involvement; N2 = ≥ 4 regional nodes.

  • M0 = none; M1 = present.

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