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A critical review of classification systems for colorectal cancer

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Advances in Abdominal Surgery

Summary

After a chronological overview of the various staging systems for colorectal cancer, presented in an effort to demonstrate the reasons for the current state of confusion, four different systems (Dukes. Astler and Coller, ACPS, TNM) were compared in 791 patients treated at some stage of their disease at Parma University’s Institute of Surgery. Life survival table analysis was used to examine survival according to each staging system. From the analysis of the staging systems commonly utilised, Dukes’system modified by Astler and Coller, emerges as the best reference model now available. The system can be fine-tuned to a certain extent, in order to improve its predictive value, by taking into account the number of lymph nodes affected by the tumour; further improvement is also foreseeable, above all by the use of genetic variables. However, no classification system can be correct, if it is not accompanied by an accurate pre-operative diagnosis and a thorough post-operative histological study.

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© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Peracchia, A., Sarli, L., Pietra, N., Gobbi, S. (1999). A critical review of classification systems for colorectal cancer. In: Zanella, E. (eds) Advances in Abdominal Surgery. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4469-8_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4469-8_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-5914-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-4469-8

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