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stage IIIA colorectal cancer

(...KOH-loh-REK-tul KAN-ser)
Stage III colorectal cancer is divided into stages IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC. In stage IIIA, (1) cancer has spread through the mucosa (innermost layer) of the colon and/or rectum wall to the submucosa (layer of tissue next to the mucosa) or to the muscle layer of the colon and/or rectum wall. Cancer has spread to one to three nearby lymph nodes or cancer cells have formed in tissue near the lymph nodes; or (2) cancer has spread through the mucosa of the colon and/or rectum wall to the submucosa. Cancer has spread to four to six nearby lymph nodes.
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Stage IIIA colorectal cancer; drawing shows a cross-section of the colon/rectum and a two-panel inset. Each panel shows the layers of the colon/rectum wall: the mucosa, submucosa, muscle layers, and serosa. Also shown are a blood vessel and lymph nodes. The first panel shows cancer in the mucosa, submucosa, and muscle layers and in 2 lymph nodes. The second panel shows cancer in the mucosa and submucosa and in 5 lymph nodes.Enlarge this image in new window
Stage IIIA colorectal cancer. Cancer has spread through the mucosa of the colon/rectum wall to the submucosa or to the muscle layer and has spread to one to three nearby lymph nodes or to tissue near the lymph nodes; OR cancer has spread through the mucosa of the colon/rectum wall to the submucosa and to four to six nearby lymph nodes.
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