Diagnosing rectal cancer

After you are diagnosed with rectal cancer, your Penn Medicine care team will assess the size and location of the growth. Our rectal cancer pathologists and radiologists use their expertise to accurately stage rectal cancer. The detailed information they provide ensures that you get the most appropriate treatment based on your diagnosis.

Rectal cancer typically progresses through stages, which indicate the extent of the disease.

• Stage 0: Also known as carcinoma in situ, cancer cells are found only in the innermost lining of the rectum and have not invaded deeper tissues. 
• Stage I: Cancer has grown beyond the inner lining of the rectum into deeper layers of tissue but has not spread beyond the rectum. 
• Stage II: Cancer has spread through the wall of the rectum but has not reached nearby lymph nodes or distant organs. 
• Stage III: Cancer has invaded nearby lymph nodes but has not spread to distant organs. 
• Stage IV: Cancer has spread to distant organs, such as the liver, lungs, or bones, indicating metastatic disease.

Rectal cancer diagnostics at Penn Medicine

Penn Medicine providers who specialize in rectal cancer collaborate as a team with other specialists within Penn Medicine to provide a diagnosis you can trust and understand.

Our rectal surgeons and team members are recognized nationally and internationally for their clinical, scientific, and educational contributions. All have completed fellowship training in colon and rectal surgery and are board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery.