Identification of an Objective Cut-Off Point to Define the Clinical Stage T4a in Colon Cancer

Abstract

Introduction: The current state of pathology practice and the variability in diagnosing pT4a colon cancer have been underexplored in existing studies. Our objective was to establish a specific cutoff point to distinguish between the pathological stages of pT3 and pT4a in colon cancer. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving pT3 and pT4 (pN0-2, cM0) colon cancers, measuring the distance to the serosa. Patients were categorized and analyzed based on this distance and the peritoneal reaction, with the aim being to ascertain their prognostic implications. Results: A total of 384 patients were analyzed. Patients with a distance between the invading front of cancer and the serosa ≥ 1 mm without a peritoneal reaction exhibited a median survival of 118 months, contrasting the amount of 70 months for those with p p < 0.001). Hence, such cases should be considered within the pT4a stage.

Keywords

• colon cancer
• clinical staging
• mortality
• risk factors
• serous invasion