Pathologic 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 #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 In situ, intraepithelial, noninvasive
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 OR
extension to lingual surface of epiglottis		 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 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
p4B pT4b 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 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)
\* 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.