title: Pathological staging of epidermoid anal carcinoma for the new era.
abstract: Chemoradiotherapy is the standard treatment for most patients with epidermoid anal cancer. Pre-treatment staging is based on size for T1-T3 lesions and clinical and radiological assessment of adjacent organ invasion for T4 lesions. For patients with residual or recurrent carcinoma, anorectal excision offers the best chance of oncological salvage. Pathological staging systems for anorectal excision specimens were validated at the time when surgical treatment was first line therapy. A validated staging system is necessary for salvage surgical excision specimens following an attempt to cure by radiotherapy and chemotherapy for the purpose of prognosis and further treatment planning.
authors.affiliation: Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK. jhill@mri3.cmht.nwest.uk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meadows
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haboubi
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.forename: J M A
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Northover
mesh_terms: D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results