Rectal Cancer Abstracting Boot Camp

Categories: rectal cancer

About Course

Start with the normal rectum, its wall, mesorectum and nearby lymph nodes. Learn how rectal cancer develops, how common it is, risk factors, symptoms, and how endoscopy, pathology and imaging establish a diagnosis before registry coding.

Then build a 2026 rectal abstract in the order an abstractor works: primary site, multiple primaries and histology; grade and site-specific data items; clinical extent and staging; treatment delivered and how surgery, radiation and systemic therapy are coded. Practice decisions appear throughout.

Finish with a text-abstraction guide, five complete fictional patient charts, a coding-and-text worksheet with dropdown choices and source-based feedback, a cumulative final exam and a course review. Verify exact codes in diagnosis-year SEER, STORE, SEER*RSA, Grade, SSDI, Solid Tumor Rules and AJCC resources. Designed for learners new to rectal cancer and registry work.

Course Content

Start Here: Rectum and Rectal Cancer Foundations
Learn what the rectum does, its wall and surrounding tissues, how a cancer begins and spreads, why symptoms occur, and how clinicians investigate a possible rectal cancer before registry coding.

Meet the Rectum: Anatomy and Normal Function
A Patient’s Rectal Cancer Workup and Treatment Plan
How Rectal Cancer Develops and Spreads
Rectal Foundation Summary and Clinical Check

Module 1: Rectal Anatomy, Primary Site, and Diagnostic Sources
Trace the rectum from the rectosigmoid junction to the anal canal; identify wall layers and the mesorectum; distinguish rectal from nearby sites; follow colonoscopy, biopsy, pelvic MRI, CT, and multidisciplinary notes. Includes an interactive source lab, recap, scored review, and feedback.

Module 2: Rectal Solid Tumor Rules and Histology
Use the 2026.1 Colon, Rectosigmoid, and Rectum Solid Tumor Rules to determine primary count and histology. Includes the site-group workflow, pre-treatment pathology priority, five interactive decisions, a scored review, and feedback.

Module 3: Rectal Grade and Site-Specific Data Items
Apply 2026 Colon and Rectum grade timeframes and SSDI source rules to CEA, tumor deposits, perineural invasion, circumferential resection margin, and molecular markers. Includes interactive cases, summary, scored review, and learner feedback.

Module 4: Rectal EOD, Summary Stage, and Stage Timeline
Trace clinical extent before treatment and posttherapy findings without losing the original disease extent. Practice EOD Primary Tumor, EOD Regional Nodes, EOD Mets, Summary Stage, and AJCC c/yp documentation using the 2026 rectal schema. Includes interactive decisions, review, and feedback.

Module 5: Rectal Surgery and First-Course Coding
Translate operative reports into the 2026 rectum surgery codes. Distinguish local excision, LAR, sphincter-preserving pull-through, APR, and multivisceral resection; capture TME quality, margin status, and regional-node surgery. Includes interactive case decisions, review, and feedback.

Module 6: Rectal Radiation Coding with STORE 2026
Abstract first-course rectal radiation from a realistic treatment summary using STORE 2026. Practice phase target, pelvic nodes, modality, planning technique, delivered fractions and dose, course total, completion, and radiation/surgery sequence. Includes interactive decisions, a scored review, and feedback.

Module 7: Rectal Systemic Therapy and Treatment Sequence
Abstract chemotherapy and other systemic therapy from medical oncology records using STORE 2026 and SEER*Rx. Follow the same fictional patient through concurrent capecitabine and surgery, distinguish recommendation from administration, and practice systemic/surgery sequence. Includes interactive cases, review, and feedback.

Module 8: Rectal Abstracting Practice Lab
Work through a longitudinal patient packet with full diagnostic, imaging, operative, pathology, radiation, and medical oncology reports. Then complete five independent test abstracts with source-by-source decisions, revealable rationales, a scored review, and feedback.

Master Packet A: Diagnostic and Imaging Reports
Master Packet B: Treatment, Surgery, and Final Pathology
Master Abstract: Dana Ellis Answer Walkthrough
Test Abstract 1: Malignant Rectal Polyp
Test Abstract 2: Neoadjuvant Therapy and Resection
Test Abstract 3: External Iliac Node Is Distant
Test Abstract 4: Peritoneum and Liver Metastases
Test Abstract 5: Clinical Response Without Surgery
Module 8 Summary: Reconcile the Whole Record
Module 8 Review: Five Integrated Abstract Decisions
Module 8 Feedback: Practice Abstracts
How to Write Rectal Abstract Text and Use the Full Worksheet

Module 9: Rectal Boot Camp Wrap-Up and Final Exam
Review the complete rectal abstraction workflow, take a cumulative final exam covering Modules 1–8, and share course feedback. This course-wide conclusion stands apart from the practice lab.

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About Course

Course Content

Start Here: Rectum and Rectal Cancer Foundations Learn what the rectum does, its wall and surrounding tissues, how a cancer begins and spreads, why symptoms occur, and how clinicians investigate a possible rectal cancer before registry coding.

Meet the Rectum: Anatomy and Normal Function

A Patient’s Rectal Cancer Workup and Treatment Plan

How Rectal Cancer Develops and Spreads

Rectal Foundation Summary and Clinical Check

Rectal Map: Site Boundaries and Wall Layers

Colonoscopy, Biopsy, MRI, and CT: Build the Source Trail

Interactive Source Lab: Five Rectal Case Decisions

Module 1 Summary: Rectal Site and Source Checklist

Module 1 Review: Rectal Site and Sources

Module 1 Feedback: Anatomy and Sources

Module 2: Rectal Solid Tumor Rules and Histology Use the 2026.1 Colon, Rectosigmoid, and Rectum Solid Tumor Rules to determine primary count and histology. Includes the site-group workflow, pre-treatment pathology priority, five interactive decisions, a scored review, and feedback.

Choose the 2026 Rectal Solid Tumor Rules Path

Histology Before and After Neoadjuvant Therapy

Interactive Rule Lab: Five Rectal Decisions

Module 2 Summary: Rule and Histology Checklist

Module 2 Review: Rectal Rules and Histology

Module 2 Feedback: Rules and Histology

Module 3: Rectal Grade and Site-Specific Data Items Apply 2026 Colon and Rectum grade timeframes and SSDI source rules to CEA, tumor deposits, perineural invasion, circumferential resection margin, and molecular markers. Includes interactive cases, summary, scored review, and learner feedback.

Grade Timeline: Clinical, Pathological, yc, and yp

Pretreatment CEA: Pair the Value with Its Interpretation

Surgical Pathology SSDIs: Deposits, PNI, and CRM

Molecular Results and the Addendum Trail

Interactive Data Lab: Five Rectal SSDI Decisions

Module 3 Summary: Grade and SSDI Source Checklist

Module 3 Review: Grade and Rectal SSDIs

Module 3 Feedback: Grade and SSDIs

Stage Timeline: Baseline, Treatment, and Resection

EOD Primary Tumor: Wall Layers and Mesorectal Spread

EOD Nodes and Mets: Regional or Distant?

Summary Stage and AJCC: Distinct Staging Questions

Interactive Stage Lab: Five Rectal Evidence Decisions

Module 4 Summary: Stage Evidence Checklist

Module 4 Review: Rectal EOD and Stage

Module 4 Feedback: EOD and Stage

First-Course Surgery: Read the Operative Record

2026 Rectum Surgery Code Map

TME, Margins, and Regional Nodes

Interactive Surgery Lab: Five Operative Decisions

Module 5 Summary: Surgery Abstraction Checklist

Module 5 Review: Rectal Surgery Coding

Module 5 Feedback: Rectal Surgery

Radiation Record: Follow One Rectal Patient

STORE Phase Targets: Rectum and Pelvic Nodes

Modality, Planning, Fractions, and Dose

Course Total, Completion, and Treatment Sequence

Interactive Radiation Lab: Five STORE Decisions

Module 6 Summary: Radiation Evidence Checklist

Module 6 Review: STORE Rectal Radiation

Module 6 Feedback: Radiation Coding

Medical Oncology Record: Dana Ellis Continues

STORE Chemotherapy: Agent Count and Proof of Treatment

Classify Agents and Keep Treatment Modalities Separate

First-Course Timeline and Systemic/Surgery Sequence

Interactive Systemic Therapy Lab: Five Chart Decisions

Module 7 Summary: Systemic Therapy Evidence Checklist

Module 7 Review: Rectal Systemic Therapy

Module 7 Feedback: Systemic Therapy

Master Packet A: Diagnostic and Imaging Reports

Master Packet B: Treatment, Surgery, and Final Pathology

Master Abstract: Dana Ellis Answer Walkthrough

Test Abstract 1: Malignant Rectal Polyp

Test Abstract 2: Neoadjuvant Therapy and Resection

Test Abstract 3: External Iliac Node Is Distant

Test Abstract 4: Peritoneum and Liver Metastases

Test Abstract 5: Clinical Response Without Surgery

Module 8 Summary: Reconcile the Whole Record

Module 8 Review: Five Integrated Abstract Decisions

Module 8 Feedback: Practice Abstracts

How to Write Rectal Abstract Text and Use the Full Worksheet

Module 9: Rectal Boot Camp Wrap-Up and Final Exam Review the complete rectal abstraction workflow, take a cumulative final exam covering Modules 1–8, and share course feedback. This course-wide conclusion stands apart from the practice lab.

Course Summary: A Complete Rectal Abstract

Rectal Boot Camp Final Exam

Rectal Boot Camp Course Review

Student Ratings & Reviews

Start Here: Rectum and Rectal Cancer Foundations
Learn what the rectum does, its wall and surrounding tissues, how a cancer begins and spreads, why symptoms occur, and how clinicians investigate a possible rectal cancer before registry coding.

Module 2: Rectal Solid Tumor Rules and Histology
Use the 2026.1 Colon, Rectosigmoid, and Rectum Solid Tumor Rules to determine primary count and histology. Includes the site-group workflow, pre-treatment pathology priority, five interactive decisions, a scored review, and feedback.

Module 3: Rectal Grade and Site-Specific Data Items
Apply 2026 Colon and Rectum grade timeframes and SSDI source rules to CEA, tumor deposits, perineural invasion, circumferential resection margin, and molecular markers. Includes interactive cases, summary, scored review, and learner feedback.

Module 9: Rectal Boot Camp Wrap-Up and Final Exam
Review the complete rectal abstraction workflow, take a cumulative final exam covering Modules 1–8, and share course feedback. This course-wide conclusion stands apart from the practice lab.