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Colon Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)

  • Updated: 02/08/2013

Table 3. Definitions of TNM Stage II

Stage TNMa,b Dukesc MACd Description Illustration  
IIAT3, N0, M0BB2T3 = Tumor invades through the muscularis propria into pericolorectal tissues.
Enlarge
Stage II colorectal cancer; shows a cross-section of the colon/rectum and a three-panel inset. Each panel shows the layers of the colon/rectum wall: mucosa, submucosa, muscle layers, and serosa. Also shown are a blood vessel and lymph nodes. First panel shows stage IIA with cancer in the mucosa, submucosa, muscle layers, and serosa. Second panel shows stage IIB with cancer in all layers and spreading through the serosa. Third panel shows stage IIC with cancer spreading to nearby organs.
N0 = No regional lymph node metastasis.
M0 = No distant metastasis.
IIBT4a, N0, M0BB2T4a = Tumor penetrates to the surface of the visceral peritoneum.f
N0 = No regional lymph node metastasis.
M0 = No distant metastasis.
IICT4b, N0, M0BB3T4b = Tumor directly invades or is adherent to other organs or structures.f,g
N0 = No regional lymph node metastasis.
M0 = No distant metastasis.

T = primary tumor; N = regional lymph nodes; M = distant metastasis.
Reprinted with permission from AJCC: Colon and rectum. In: Edge SB, Byrd DR, Compton CC, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 7th ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2010, pp 143-164.
The explanations for superscripts a–g are at the end of Table 5.