From: Oropharyngeal Cancer Treatment (Adult) (PDQ®)
PDQ Cancer Information Summaries [Internet].
Bethesda (MD): National Cancer Institute (US); 2002-.
NCBI Bookshelf. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
Table 8. Definitions of TNM Stage IVC
| Stage | TNMa | Description |
|---|---|---|
| IVC | Any T, Any N, M1 | TX = Primary tumor cannot be assessed. |
| T0 = No evidence of primary tumor. | ||
| Tis = Carcinoma in situ. | ||
| T1 = Tumor ≤2 cm in greatest dimension. | ||
| T2 = Tumor >2 cm but ≤4 cm in greatest dimension. | ||
| T3 = Tumor >4 cm in greatest dimension or extension to lingual surface of epiglottis. | ||
| T4a = Moderately advanced local disease. Tumor invades the larynx, extrinsic muscle of tongue, medial pterygoid, hard palate, or mandible.b | ||
| T4b = Very advanced local disease. Tumor invades lateral pterygoid muscle, pterygoid plates, lateral nasopharynx, or skull base, or encases carotid artery. | ||
| NX = Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed. | ||
| N0 = No regional lymph node metastasis. | ||
| N1 = Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, ≤3 cm in greatest dimension. | ||
| N2 = Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, >3 cm but ≤6 cm in greatest dimension, or metastasis in multiple ipsilateral lymph nodes, ≤6 cm in greatest dimension, or in bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, ≤6 cm in greatest dimension. | ||
| N2a = Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node >3 cm but ≤6 cm in greatest dimension. | ||
| N2b = Metastases in multiple ipsilateral lymph nodes, ≤6 cm in greatest dimension. | ||
| N2c = Metastases in bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, ≤6 cm in greatest dimension. | ||
| N3 = Metastasis in a lymph node >6 cm in greatest dimension. | ||
| M1 = Distant metastasis. |
T = primary tumor; N = regional lymph nodes; M = distant metastasis.
Reprinted with permission from AJCC: Pharynx. In: Edge SB, Byrd DR, Compton CC, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 7th ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2010, pp 41–56.
aMetastases at level VII are considered regional lymph node metastases.
bMucosal extension to lingual surface of epiglottis from primary tumors of the base of the tongue and vallecula does not constitute invasion of larynx.