system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 73-year-old man comes to the physician because of a 2-month history of intermittent blood in his stool. He has had no pain with defecation. Physical examination shows a 2-cm mass located above the dentate line. Further evaluation of the mass confirms adenocarcinoma. Which of the following describes the most likely route of hematogenous spread of the malignancy?
assistant
Superior rectal vein → inferior mesenteric vein → hepatic portal vein