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stage IIIB colorectal cancer

(... KOH-loh-REK-tul KAN-ser)
Stage III colorectal cancer is divided into stages IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC. In stage IIIB, (1) cancer has spread through the muscle layer of the colon and/or rectum wall to the serosa (outermost layer) of the colon and/or rectum wall or has spread through the serosa to the tissue that lines the organs in the abdomen (visceral peritoneum). 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 to the muscle layer or to the serosa of the colon and/or rectum wall. Cancer has spread to four to six nearby lymph nodes; or (3) 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 seven or more nearby lymph nodes.
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Stage IIIB colorectal cancer; drawing shows a cross-section of the colon/rectum and a three-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 all layers, in 3 nearby lymph nodes, and in the visceral peritoneum. The second panel shows cancer in all layers and in 5 nearby lymph nodes. The third panel shows cancer in the mucosa, submucosa, and muscle layers and in 7 nearby lymph nodes.Enlarge this image in new window
Stage IIIB colorectal cancer. Cancer has spread through the muscle layer of the colon/rectum wall to the serosa or has spread through the serosa to the visceral peritoneum (tissue that lines the organs in the abdomen). Cancer has spread to one to three nearby lymph nodes or to tissue near the lymph nodes; OR cancer has spread to the muscle layer or to the serosa of the colon/rectal wall and to four to six nearby lymph nodes; OR cancer has spread through the mucosa of the colon/rectal wall to the submucosa or to the muscle layer. Cancer has spread to seven or more nearby lymph nodes.
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