Clinical T

This input is used for staging

Notes

**Note 1:** Tumor size must be known to assign a value of T1, T2 or T3. You may use a physician’s statement of the T category if this is the only information in the medical record. * If the tumor appears to be in the T1, T2 or T3 categories, but no size or category is specified, assign TX **Note 2:** Assign the appropriate T category (T1, T2, T3) based on the tumor size for the following descriptions Invasive tumor on one side confined to Lamina propria Submucosa Buccal mucosa (inner cheek) Gum (gingiva), upper Lateral pharyngeal wall Musculature invaded Tonsillar pillars and fossae Tonsils Tumor crosses midline Confined to soft palate Localized, NOS

NAACCR Item

NAACCR #940
Clinical T Clinical T Display Description Registrar Notes
cX cTX Primary tumor cannot be assessed Clinical classification criteria met, evaluation done:
Physician unable to assess T
Extension cannot be determined
Tumor size (TS) unknown for T categories where TS needed to determine T
Physician assigns cTX, no other information available to determine T
c0 cT0 No evidence of primary tumor
pIS pTis Carcinoma in situ In situ, intraepithelial, noninvasive

Stated as Tis
c1 cT1 Tumor 2 cm or less in greatest dimension Stated as T1
c2 cT2 Tumor more than 2 cm but not more than 4 cm in greatest dimension Stated as T2
c3 cT3 Tumor more than 4 cm in greatest dimension OR
extension to lingual surface of epiglottis
Stated as T3
c4 cT4 Not defined by UICC*# Note: T4 has subcategories of T4a and T4b. Assign T4 only when there is no information available to assign one of the subcategories

Tumor invades bone, nerve or extrinsic deep muscles

Stated as T4[NOS]
c4A cT4a Tumor invades any of the following:
Larynx
Deep/extrinsic muscle of tongue, which are:
Genioglossus
Hyoglossus
Palatoglossus
Styloglossus
Medial pterygoid
Hard palate
Mandible
Hypopharynx
Mandible
Maxilla
Nasal cavity
Palatine bone (bone of hard palate)
Pterygoid muscle, medial or NOS
Tongue

Stated as T4a
c4B cT4b Tumor invades any of the following:
Lateral pterygoid muscle
Pterygoid plates
Lateral nasopharynx
Skull base
Encases carotid artery
Maxillary sinus (antrum)
Nasopharynx, lateral or NOS
Pterygoid muscle, lateral
Pterygoid plates

Further contiguous extension including:
Skull base

Stated as T4b
88 88 Not applicable Primary site/histology not TNM defined
Death certificate only (DCO) case
<BLANK> BLANK See Registrar Notes Clinical classification criteria not met
Clinical classification criteria met, evaluation done:
No information about diagnostic workup
Results not documented in record
Clinical evaluation of primary tumor not done or unknown if done
Tumor first detected on surgical resection (no clinical workup)
Evidence of metastatic disease [(cM1) or (pM1)], no other workup
Only Clinical Stage Group documented (no T, N, or M information available)
\* T4 [NOS] is not defined by UICC in the 7th edition. Approval has been provided by UICC to use "Tumor invades bone, nerve or extrinsic deep muscles" as T4 [NOS]. \# T4 [NOS] is not defined in AJCC 7th edition.