The pathologist's role in rectal cancer patient assessments.

Since Cuthbert Dukes fundamental work linking cancer stage to prognosis, the pathologist has had an ever-expanding role in the multidisciplinary management of rectal cancer. Gross dissection techniques and histologic evaluation are reviewed. The evolving tumor size, node status, metastasis classification (TNM) staging system is outlined. The pathologist's critical role in correctly assessing circumferential margins and establishing resection adequacy and staging accuracy via lymph node assessment is emphasized.