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 confined to one of the following subsites Anterior wall including vallecula One lateral wall (including tonsillar pillar/fossa, palatine tonsil and tonsil, NOS) Posterior wall Base of tongue (including lingual tonsil) Buccal mucosa Floor of mouth Gum (gingiva) Involvement of both lateral walls through soft palate or base of tongue Soft palate Inferior surface including uvula Soft palate, NOS Superior (nasopharyngeal) surface Confined to oropharynx, NOS Localized, NOS **Note 3:** Mucosal extension to lingual surface of epiglottis from primary tumors of the base of the tongue and vallecular does not constitute invasion of the larynx.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 | 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 |
Epiglottis, lingual surface, plus both lateral walls through soft palate or base of tongue Epiglottis WITH fixation 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 NOS Posterior surface of epiglottis Pterygoid muscle, NOS Pyriform sinus Soft tissue of neck Stated as T4a |
| c4B | cT4b | Tumor invades any of the following: Lateral pterygoid muscle Pterygoid plates Lateral nasopharynx Skull base Encases carotid artery |
Prevertebral fascia/muscle Base of skull Bone of skull Bone, NOS Further contiguous extension: Anterior 2/3 of tongue Parotid gland 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) |