Abstract
We studied the invasive depth of 80 cases of resected rectal carcinoma. The results were as follows : Classification of the invasive depth was m : sm (12.5 %), pm (28.8 %), ss : a1 (17.5 %), s : a2 (36.3 %) and si : ai (5 %) . There was a relation between the invasive depth, the size of the tumor, and CEA. Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma appeared most often. The proportion of moderately and poor differentiated adenocarcinoma increased in deep invasion. There was a relation between invasive depth and lymphatic invasion (ly), venous invasion (v), and lymph node metastasis. Survival decreased with depth of invasion. Invasive depth is the most important factor in the prognosis of rectal cancer.
