Pathologic N

This input is used for staging

Notes

**Note 1:** Histological examination of a regional lymphadenectomy specimen will ordinarily include 10 or more lymph nodes. If the lymph nodes are negative, but the number ordinarily is not met, classify as pN0. (1) **Note 2:** Code only regional nodes and nodes, NOS, in this field. Distant nodes are coded in M (distant metastasis). **Regional lymph nodes** Anterior to the ampulla of Vater Inferior to the ampulla of Vater Posterior to the ampulla of Vater Superior to the ampulla of Vater Celiac Hepatic Hepatic artery Infrapyloric (subpyloric) Lateral aortic (lumbar) Node of the foramen of Winslow (epiploic) (omental) Pancreaticoduodenal Peripancreatic (EXCEPT nodes at tail of pancreas) Periportal (portal vein) Proximal mesenteric Retroperitoneal Superior mesenteric

NAACCR Item

NAACCR #890
Pathologic N Pathologic N Display Description Registrar Notes
pX pNX Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed Pathologic classification criteria met, evaluation done:
Physician unable to assess N
Surgical resection primary tumor, no regional lymph nodes removed
Involvement of regional lymph nodes not documented
Physician assigns pNX, no other information available to determine N
p0 pN0 No regional lymph node metastasis
p1 pN1 Regional lymph node metastasis Regional lymph nodes, NOS
Lymph nodes, NOS

Stated as N1
c0 cN0 Clinically: No regional lymph node metastasis Use only for TNM defined pTis cases where there is a resection of the primary and the nodes are not evaluated pathologically
88 88 Not applicable Primary site/histology not TNM defined
Death certificate only (DCO) case
<BLANK> BLANK See Registrar Notes Pathologic classification criteria not met
No surgical resection of primary tumor and there isn’t a positive biopsy of a structure in the highest T category and highest N category
Evidence of metastatic disease (pM1), no other workup
Only Pathologic Stage Group documented (no T, N, or M information available)
(1) International Union Against Cancer (UICC) *TNM Classification of Malignant Tumors,* 7th ed., Sobin, LH, Gospodarowicz, M, Wittekind, CH, eds. New York: Wiley, 2009, pg., 130