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 
T1,0N1M0 II
T2N0 M0 II 
T2N1M0II
T1,0N2M0 III
T2N2M0 III
T3N0M0 III
T3N1M0 III
T3N2M0III
T4 N0M0 IVA
T4N1M0 IVA
T4N2M0 IVA
Any TN3M0 IVA
Any TAny N M1IVB
American Joint Committee on Cancer, 8th Ed. 2017

TNM Staging Tool

Enter your TNM numbers to see staging information.

ok

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.

Continue to the Next Page
Continue to the Next Section