Ch. Wittekind

Colon and Rectum

Carcinoma of the large intestine has undergone relatively few basic modifications between the 6th and 7th TNM editions so that the main T, N, and M categories and Stages I, II, III, and IV can be compared with those of the previous two editions. A number of subdivisions of these major categories have been made. Despite this expansion, all of the substages can be collapsed back into the original four stages of previous TNM classifications covering a 30 year span as well as being compatible with the original Dukes classification, thus ensuring backwards compatibility.