title: The role of the pathologist in rectal cancer diagnosis and staging and surgical quality assessment.
abstract: Since the introduction of the total mesorectal excision by Heald, many changes in the therapeutic management of rectal cancer have been incorporated. The multidisciplinary approach to colorectal cancer, integrated in a team of different specialists, ensures individualised treatment for each patient with rectal cancer. Therefore the role of the pathologist has acquired an important relevance, not only in diagnosing but also managing and evaluating the surgical specimen. The knowledge of preoperative staging, distance between tumour and anal verge or in patients subjected to a neoadjuvant treatment is necessary for the pathologist to make a detailed, accurate and good-quality report. Parameters such as the macroscopic quality of the mesorectum, the status of the circumferential resection margin and the lymph node harvest are considered basic criteria recommended by the current guidelines for the multidisciplinary team audit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínico Universitario, University of Valencia. INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain. mafausal@comv.es
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Faus
authors.forename: Desamparados
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roda
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frasson
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roselló
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Granero
authors.forename: Blas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Flor-Lorente
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Navarro
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D010338:Pathology, Clinical; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D024382:Professional Role; D011379:Prognosis; D011786:Quality Control; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
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