[Reunderstanding colorectal "tumor deposits": evolution and controversies from pathological definition to clinical...

The importance of tumor deposits (TDs), also known as "cancer nodules", as an adverse prognostic factor in colorectal cancer has been increasingly recognized. Although they have been incorporated into the staging system of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), ambiguities still exist. Current criteria rely heavily on the subjective judgment of pathologists, and the existing classification does not fully reflect their prognostic impact. This is particularly evident in the presence of positive lymph nodes. The definition, differentiation and clinical significance of TDs remain complex and sometimes controversial, and several unresolved issues surrounding TDs warrant our attention and further investigation.