Dukes分期对结、直肠癌预后的估价既简便又正确,故已被广泛应用.但由于Dukes分期经过多次改良(包括Dukes本人及别人),目前在应用中缺乏可靠的统一性及明确性.TNM法虽能更清楚地确定肿瘤的浸润程度,但又不能完全代替Dukes分期.本文复习直肠癌的历史及分期,澄清各种分期方法的混乱,提出某些不足,并比较各自的优缺点. The Dukes staging assessment of the prognosis of colorectal cancer and rectal cancer is simple and correct, so it has been widely used. However, due to Dukes’ staging improvement (including Dukes himself and others), there is a lack of reliable unity and clarity in the application. Although the TNM method can more clearly determine the degree of tumor invasion, it can not completely replace the Dukes stage. This article reviews the history and staging of rectal cancer, clarify the confusion of various staging methods, put forward some deficiencies, and compare their respective advantages and disadvantages.