Type, Grade & Stage

Stage

The stage of a cancer is determined by the TNM staging system:

  • The ‘T’ stands for tumor size.
  • The ‘N’ stands for lymph node involvement.
  • The ‘M’ stands for distant metastases, or cancer spread to other areas of the body.

Staging helps doctors determine how serious the cancer is and how best to treat it. Staging systems often reference very specific anatomical structures. Please reference the anatomy page to learn more about these terms.

Staging is generally based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition guidelines. To learn more, see the AJCC TNM Staging Table and the TNM Staging Tool below.

TNM Staging Table, from the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)
T N M Stage 
TisN0M0 0
T1N0M0 I 
T2N0M0 II
T3N0 M0 III 
T1, T2, T3N1M0III
T4a N0 or N1M0 IVA
T1, T2, T3, T4aN2M0 IVA
Any TN3M0 IVB
T4bAny NM0 IVB
Any TAny NM1IVC
American Joint Committee on Cancer, 8th Ed. 2017

TNM Staging Tool

Enter your TNM numbers to see staging information.

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What is ENE?

ENE (+)

No evidence of distant spread. Evidence of distant spread.

Extranodal extension is present, meaning that there is evidence that the tumor has spread outside of the lymph node on imaging.

ENE (-)

Extranodal extension is absent, meaning that there is no evidence that the tumor has spread outside of the lymph node on imaging.

 

The information in the TNM Staging Tool represents the AJCC 8th Edition Cancer Staging Form.

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