Pathologic Features of Primary Colon, Rectal, and Anal Malignancies

Abstract

In the United States, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women, as well as the third leading cause of cancer deaths (Colorectal cancer facts & figures 2014–2016, 2014 [2]). Worldwide, colorectal cancer is the fourth leading cause of death and causes almost 700,000 deaths each year (Cancer: fact sheet No. 297, 2015 [55]). This chapter discusses the clinical and pathologic features of the spectrum of epithelial, hematolymphoid, and mesenchymal malignant tumors of the colon, rectum, appendix, and anus.