Staging and Grading Cancers

Question 1

What does the T part of the TNM scale measure?

Answer 1

Primary tumour

Question 2

What do Tx, T0, Tis and T1-4 mean?

Answer 2

Tx = primary tumour cannot be assessed
T0 = no evidence of primary tumour
Tis = carcinoma in situ
T1-4 = increasing size and/or local extent of primary tumour

Question 3

What do Nx, N0 and N1-3 mean?

Answer 3

Nx = regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0 = no regional lymph node mets
N1-3 = increasing involvement of regional lymph nodes

Question 4

What do Mx, M0 and M1 mean?

Answer 4

Mx = presence of distant mets cannot be assessed
M0 = no distant mets
M1 = distant mets

Question 5

What TNM staging would correspond to a stage 0 cancer?

Answer 5

Tis, N0, M0

Question 6

What TNM staging would correspond to a stage I (A) cancer?

Answer 6

T1, N0, M0
T2, N0, M0

Question 7

What TNM staging would correspond to a stage II (B) cancer?

Answer 7

T3, N0, M0
T4, N0 M0

Question 8

What TNM staging would correspond to a stage III (C) cancer?

Answer 8

T(any), N1/2/3, M0

Question 9

What TNM staging would correspond to a stage IV (D) cancer?

Answer 9

T(any), N(any), M1

Question 10

What does grading refer to?

Answer 10

Histology reporting - refers to the extent the tumour resembles normal tissue
Higher grade tumours have a higher risk of local recurrence and developing secondaries

Question 11

What do Gx and G1-3 mean?

Answer 11

Gx = grade of differentiation cannot be assessed
G1 = well differentiated, similarities to normal tissue remain
G2 = moderately differentiated
G3 = poorly differentiated, bizarre cells