What does TNM staging mean?

What does TNM staging mean?

STAY-jing SIS-tem) A system to describe the amount and spread of cancer in a patient’s body, using TNM. T describes the size of the tumor and any spread of cancer into nearby tissue; N describes spread of cancer to nearby lymph nodes; and M describes metastasis (spread of cancer to other parts of the body).

Why is TNM used?

Clinical Significance The TNM system helps to establish the anatomic extent of the disease, and the combination of the three factors can serve to define the overall stage of the tumor. This method allows for simplification, with cancers staged from I-IV, with stage IV being the most severe stage.

How do you classify TNM?

Each individual aspect of TNM is termed as a category:

1. T category describes the primary tumour site and size.
2. N category describes the regional lymph node involvement.
3. M category describes the presence or otherwise of distant metastatic spread.

What does T2 mean in TNM staging?

Credit: Veer. Stage refers to the extent of your cancer, such as how large the tumor is, and if it has spread. Knowing the stage of your cancer helps your doctor: Understand how serious your cancer is and your chances of survival. Plan the best treatment for you.

Who invented TNM staging?

Developed in France in the 1940s by Pierre Denoix, the TNM classification has become the accepted basis of cancer staging.

What does Stage T1a mean?

T1a means that the cancer is in less than 5% of the removed tissue. Your surgeon unexpectedly finds T1a cancers during surgery for other reasons. T1b means that the cancer is in 5% or more of the removed tissue. Your surgeon unexpectedly finds T1b cancers during surgery for other reasons.

What does pT3a mean?

pT3a: Extraprostatic extension (focal is < 1 high power field in 1 – 2 slides, multifocal is more) or. microscopic invasion of bladder neck (in thick muscle, no adjacent nonneoplastic glands) pT3b: Seminal vesicle muscle wall invasion. pT4: Invasion of external sphincter, rectum, bladder, levator muscles or pelvic wall.

What does t3 N1 m0 mean?

For example your diagnosis may be ‘T3N1M0’. This means the cancer has grown into the outer lining of the bowel to up to three nearby lymph nodes, but has not spread to other parts of the body.

What stage is pT2N0?

In the TNM (Tumor, Node, Metastasis) system, clinical stage and pathologic stage are denoted by a small “c” or “p” before the stage (e.g., cT3N1M0 or pT2N0). This staging system is used for most forms of cancer, except brain tumors and hematological malignancies.

What does t3 n1 M0 mean?