Pathologic T
This input is used for staging
Notes
**Note 1:** Periosteum is a fibrous membrane that wraps the outer surface of bones. Cortical bone is the dense compact outer layer of the bone. Trabecular, cancellous, or spongy bone (spongiosa) is a porous network of tissue filling the interior of bone, decreasing weight and allowing room for blood vessels and marrow. **Note 2:** 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 3:** For the following descriptions, assign the appropriate T category (T1, T2 or T3) based on the tumor size when involvement is limited to the cortical bone. Invasive tumor confined to Lamina propria Submucosa (superficial invasion) Extension to Bone, NOS Buccal mucosa (inner cheek) Cartilage, NOS Commissure (from lower lip only) Cortical bone, NOS Cortical bone of mandible Cortical bone of maxilla Gingiva Hard palate including cortical palantine bone Lateral pharyngeal wall Lip(s) including commissure Mandible, NOS Maxilla, NOS Musculature (buccinator) Opposite lip (both lips) Soft palate Subcutaneous soft tissue of cheek Tonsillar pillars and fossae Tonsils Confined to buccal mucosa Localized, NOS **Note 4:** Involvement through cortical bone is required for assignment of T4a.NAACCR Item
NAACCR #880| Pathologic T | Pathologic T Display | Description | Registrar Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| pX | pTX | Primary tumor cannot be assessed | Pathologic classification criteria met, evaluation done: Physician unable to assess T Surgical resection of primary tumor, extension not stated Tumor size (TS) unknown for T categories where TS needed to determine T Physician assigns pTX, no other information available to determine T |
| p0 | pT0 | No evidence of primary tumor | |
| pIS | pTis | Carcinoma in situ | Intraepithelial, noninvasive Stated as Tis |
| p1 | pT1 | Tumor 2 cm or less in greatest dimension | Stated as T1 |
| p2 | pT2 | Tumor more than 2 cm but not more than 4 cm in greatest dimension | Stated as T2 |
| p3 | pT3 | Tumor more than 4 cm in greatest dimension | Stated as T3 |
| p4 | pT4 | 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] |
| p4A | pT4a | (lip) Tumor invades through: Cortical bone Floor of mouth Inferior alveolar nerve Skin (chin or nose) (oral cavity) Tumor invades through: Cortical bone Into deep/extrinsic muscle of tongue: Genioglossus Hyoglossus Palatoglossus Styloglossus Maxillary sinus Skin of face |
Skin of cheek with or without ulceration Trabecular bone: Mandible Maxilla Palatine bone Maxillary sinus (antrum) Nasal cavity Tongue Stated as T4a |
| p4B | pT4b | (lip and oral cavity) Tumor invades: Masticator space Pterygoid plates Skull base or Encases internal carotid artery |
Masticator space Pterygoid plates Other specified bone(s) (Other than maxilla, mandible, palatine, masticator space, pterygoid plates) Further contiguous extension including: Base of skull Internal carotid artery (encased) Skull Stated as T4b |
| 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 Pathologic classification criteria met, evaluation done: Results not documented in patient record No surgical resection of known primary tumor (not T0) Resection insufficient for site-specific pathologic assessment 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) |