The management of
colorectal cancer (CRC) highly relies on the TNM staging system. Tumour deposits (
TDs), important histoprognostic factors, are detected in approximately 20% of
CRCs and associated with poor prognosis. Integration of
TDs in the TNM staging remains a subject of lively debate and differs over the successive TNM classifications. Currently
TDs, whatever their number, are considered in pathologic staging only in the absence of
lymph node metastasis (LNM; subcategory pN1c). However, the medical community is divided over this way of integrating
TDs in the TNM staging system. Considering the personalization of the type and duration of
adjuvant chemotherapy in stage III
colon cancer according to the number of LNM, this issue has become of growing importance. Thus, ignoring
TDs in the presence of LNM represents a major prognostic underestimation and leads to wrong therapeutic decisions. Hence, considering the growing significance of prognostic role, the scientific complexity, and a potential
therapeutic effect of
TDs, we provide an overview of current knowledge about
TDs. Based on the results from recent publications, we also provide plausible scenarios of integration of
TDs into the next TNM classification system.