Staging & Grading

Question 1

What are most mdoent staging systems based upon?

Answer 1

• TNM System
• T = primary tumour
• N = regional lymph nodes
• M = distant/organ metastasis

Question 2

What do each of these codes stand for in the T part of the TNM staging system.

• Tx
• T0
• Tis
• T1, T2, T3, T4

Answer 2

• Tx = Priamry tumour cannot be assessed
• T0 = No evidence of primary tumour
• Tis =Carcinoma in situ
• T1, T2, T3, T4 =Increasing size and/or local extent of the primary tumour

Question 3

What do these different code under the N part of the TNM staging system stand for.

• Nx
• N0
• N1, N2, N3

Answer 3

• Nx = Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
• N0 = No regional lymph node metastasis
• N1, N2, N3 = Increasing involvement of regional lymph nodes

Question 4

What do the different M codes part of the TNM staging system mean.

• Mx
• M0
• M1

Answer 4

• Mx = Presence of distant metastasis cannot be assessed
• M0 = No distant metastasis
• M1 = Distatnt metastasis

Question 5

What is considered to be stage 0?

Answer 5

• Tis = carcinoma in situ
• N0 = no node involvement
• M0 = no distant metastasis

Question 6

What is considered to come under stage 1?

Answer 6

• T1 or T2 spread of primary tumour
• N0 = no regional lymph node involvement
• M0 =no distant metastasis

Question 7

What is considered to be considered as a stage 2 cancer?

Answer 7

• T3 or T4 growth or a primary cancer
• N0 = no regional lymph node involvement
• M0 = no distant metastasis

Question 8

What is considered to be a stage 3 cancer?

Answer 8

• Any T =growth of primary tumour
• N1, N2, N3 =involvement of regional lymphnodes
• M0 = no distant metastasis

Question 9

What is considered to be a stage 4 cancer?

Answer 9

• Any T
• Any N
• M1 =metastasised to distant site

Question 10

What is meant by the grading of a cancer?

Answer 10

Histologically, a tumour will have a grade, referring to the exten the tumour resembles normal tissue or has a bizarre appearance

Question 11

What does GX mean for grading a cancer?

Answer 11

Grade of differentiation cannot be assessed

Question 12

What does G1 grade mean?

Answer 12

Well differentiated: similarities remain to normal tissue of the organ of origin

Question 13

What does G2 grade mean?

Answer 13

Moderately differentiated

Question 14

What does G3 grade mean?

Answer 14

Poorly differentiated: bizarre looking cells