Recent pathology related advances in colorectal adenocarcinomas

This brief review addresses some new developments in the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of colorectal cancer, including the mismatch repair protein mechanism of colorectal adenocarcinoma carcinogenesis. The second part of this review summarizes recent improvements in the pathological evaluation of colorectal resection specimens, and highlights the advantage seen in the resulting improved quality of gross dissection provided by the use of highly trained non-medical pathology assistants. Topics also covered include optimum methods of assessment of radial resection margins, the accuracy of measured margin distances, the assessment of adenocarcinoma involvement of the peritoneal serosal surface, improved methods of lymph-node recovery from colorectal adenocarcinoma resection specimens and the recently recognized adverse prognostic significance of extranodal pericolonic tumour deposits. Formats for standardized reporting of colorectal resection specimens are presented as a means to improve quality and consistency of pathological data recording and collection. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.