Colorectal cancer: the relationship of staging to survival. A cancer registry study of 800 cases in St. Gallen-Appenzell.

Proper classification of colorectal cancer has been critical in determining prognosis. Dukes' staging and its modifications have created considerable confusion. The TNM system has never been widely accepted because of its complexity. The Australian clinico-pathological staging (ACPS) system corresponds closely to Dukes' A, B, C-classification, but it differs from Dukes' in separating a stage D for incurable metastatic disease. Evaluating the compatibility of these 3 different staging systems, a survival analysis is presented of a group of 800 non-selected patients, resected in curative or palliative intention and compiled from the cancer registry of St. Gall-Appenzell. The prognostic importance of accurate staging for colorectal cancer is confirmed. No matter which system is used, in order to give realistic statements it must be based on tumor penetration, lymph node involvement and distant metastasis.