DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
Clinical staging of malignant tumours proposed by the UICC (Union internationalis contra cancrum).
General informationThis section has been translated automatically.
- T denotes the spread of the primary tumor:
- Tx: primary tumor not classified or classifiable
- T0: Not present or unknown
- Tis: In-situ findings
- T1-T4: Size expansion and environmental infiltration of the primary tumor. They are defined separately for each type of tumour (data in mm).
- N refers to metastases in the regional lymph drainage area, including in-transit metastases:
- Nx: Regional lymph nodes are not to be assessed or the regional lymph drainage area is not examined by default
- N0: Negative result
- N1-N3: number and extent of metastases and adhesion to the environment. They are defined separately for each type of tumor.
- M denotes distant metastases, i.e. all metastases outside the lymph drainage region assigned to the primary tumour:
- Mx: distant metastases cannot be assessed or are not examined by standard
- M0: No distant metastases detectable
- M1: Remote metastases present
- The following abbreviations apply to the location of the remote metastases:
- Lung = PUL
- Bone = OSS
- Liver = HEP
- Brain = BRA
- Lymph node = LYM
- Bone marrow = MAR
- Pleura = PLE
- Peritoneum = PER
- Skin = SKI
- other organs = OTH
- Additional markings:
- C-factor: Examination technique used to confirm the diagnosis:
- C1: Classified on the basis of standard examinations (clinical findings, standard chest X-ray examination)
- C2: Classified on the basis of special diagnostic procedures, e.g. tomogram, sonography
- C3: Classified after surgical exploration or sample biopsy
- C4: Postoperative histopathological classification (corresponds to the p-factor)
- C-5: Autopsy.
- p-factor: Postoperative histopathological classification. Requires a complete resection and examination for the evaluation of the primary tumour (pT), and removal to a degree that makes a reliable statement about the absence of metastases and is sufficient to determine the highest pN category for the evaluation of regional lymph node metastases (pN). The pathological detection of distant metastases requires microscopic examination.
TNM classification of the individual tumour forms see under the respective keywords. - G: Histopathological grading:
- G1: Low malignancy grade
- G2: Mean degree of malignancy
- G3: High degree of malignancy.
Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer