Duke's Stages of Colorectal Cancer
Cuthbert Duke was an English Pathologist who in 1932 reported a classification for staging rectal cancer, which was later adapted to include colon cancer. The original staging system only included the three stages, but later on Stage D was added for advanced disease.
Stage A – Tumour confined to the mucosa.
Stage B – Tumour infiltrating through muscle.
Stage C – Lymph node metastases present.
Stage D – Distant metastases.
Many refinements of the original classification have now been reported in the surgical literature.
Reference
Dukes CE, Bussey HJ. The Spread of Rectal Cancer and its Effect on Prognosis. Br J. Cancer 1932; 12: 309-320.
