TNM Classification: Lung carcinoma

 

T- Primary tumor

TX -  Primary tumor cannot be assessed or tumor proven by the presence of malignant cell in sputum or bronchial washing but not visualized by imaging of bronchoscopy;

TO -  No evidence of primary tumor;

Tis-   Carcinoma in situ;

T1 -  Tumor 3 cm or less in greatest dimension, surrounded by lung or visceral pleura without bronchoscopic evidence of invasion more proximal than lobular bronchus;

T2 -  Tumor with any of the following features of size or extent; more than 3 cm in greatest dimension; involves main bronchus, 2 cm more proximal to carina; invades visceral pleura; associated with atelectasis or obstructive pneumonitis that extends to the hilar region but not involve the entire lung;

T3 -  Tumor of any size that directly invades any of the followings: chest wall (including superior sulcus tumor), diaphragm, mediastinal pleura, parietal pericardium; tumors in the main bronchus less than 3 cm distal to the carina; associated with atelectasis or obstructive pneumonitis of entire lung;

T4 -  Tumor of any size that invades any of the following: mediastinum, heart, great vessel, trachea, esophagus, vertebral body, carina, separate tumor nodule(s) in the same,lobe; tumor with malignant pleural effusion.

​

N - Regional lymph nodes

NX - Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed;

NO - No regional lymph node metastasis;

N1 - Metastasis in ipsilateral peribronchial and/or ipsilateral hilar lymph nodes and intrapulmonary nodes, including involvement by direct extension;

N2 - Metastasis in ipsilateral mediastinal and/or subcarinal lymph nodes;

N3 - Metastasis in contralateral mediastinal, contralateral hilar, ipsilateral or contralateral, scalene, or supraclavicular lymph nodes.

 

M - Distant metastasis

MX - Distant metastasis cannot be assessed MO - No distant metastasis;

M1 - Distant metastasis, including separate tumor nodule(s) in a different lobe (ipsilateral or contralateral).