Following the identification of anal cancer studies to determine whether cancerous cells have spread to the anal canal or on other parts of the body.

To determine whether the cancer has spread to the anal canal or on other parts of the body is used by staging.

Based on information obtained in the staging process determines the stage of the disease. Stage it is necessary to know in order to plan treatment. In the process of staging the following types of research:

• slice CT. With this procedure, you receive a number of detailed image areas inside the body taken from different perspectives. Pictures makes a computer attached to the X-ray machine. Sometimes the patient is introduced into a vein or swallowed give a dye that organs and tissues could be seen more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography. When anal cancer do slice CT of the pelvis and abdomen.
• chest radiograph. X-ray organs and bones of the chest. With the help of X-rays, which reveals the tissues of the body, the film is projected the image of internal organs and tissues.
• Endoanalnaya and endorectal ultrasonography. Procedure in which an ultrasonic transducer (probe) is introduced into the anal canal or rectum. The sensor produces high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound), which are reflected from the internal tissues and organs, and picks up the echo. Echo forms an image of body tissues, which is called sonogram.

There are three pathways for the spread of cancer in the body:

• tissues. Cancer cells penetrate into the surrounding healthy tissue.
• lymphatic system. Cancer cells penetrate the lymphatic system and move on lymphatic vessels in other parts of the body.
• Blood. Cancer cells penetrate into the veins and capillaries and blood fall into the other parts of the body.

When cancer cells from primary tumor move on lymphatic and blood vessels in other parts of the body, may form a secondary tumor. This process is called metastasis. The secondary (metastatic) tumor is of the same type of cancer, and primary. For example, if breast cancer spread to the bone, tumor cells located in bone, are actually breast cancer cells. The disease - metastatic breast cancer, not bone cancer.

Allocate the following stages of anal cancer:

 

Stage 0 (intraepithelial carcinoma)

At this stage, atypical cells are found on the inner surface (mucosa) shell anal canal. These abnormal cells can form tumors and spread to nearby healthy tissue. Zero stage is also called intraepithelial cancer.

Phase I
At stage I formed a cancerous tumor the size of 2 cm

Phase II

At stage II tumor size greater than 2 cm

Stage IIIA

• At stage IIIA tumor can be any size, and spread to:
•  lymph nodes in the rectal area, or
• nearby organs - vagina, urethra, bladder.

Stage IIIB

• At a stage IIIB tumor can be any size, and spread to:
• nearby organs and lymph nodes in the rectal area.
•  lymph nodes on one side pelvic and / or groin, and possibly to nearby organs.
• lymph nodes in the rectum and groin, and / or lymph nodes on both sides of the pelvic and / or groin area, and possibly to nearby organs.

 Stage IV

At the fourth stage of the tumor can be any size, and the cancer had spread to lymph nodes or nearby organs, as well as to remote parts of the body.

Relapse anal cancer

anal cancer relapse - a return of cancer after treatment. Repeatedly cancer can occur in the anal canal and other parts of the body.