Rectal Cancer Staging

Rectal cancer staging provides critical information concerning the extent of the disease. The information gained from staging is used to determine prognosis, to guide management, and to assess response to therapy. Accurate staging is essential for directing the multidisciplinary approach to therapy. This article focuses on the evolution of staging systems, the rational for staging, and current methods used to stage rectal cancer. KEYWORDS Rectal cancer - staging - endorectal ultrasound - magnetic resonance imaging - positron emission tomography - computed tomography