Pathologic T

This input is used for staging

Notes

**Note 1:** Assign 88 for in situ cases (behavior code /2). TNM does not include an in situ category for mucosal melanoma tumors. **Note 2:** Mucosal melanomas are aggressive tumors, therefore, T1 and T2 are omitted, as are Stages I and II. **Note 3:** Assign T3 for localized tumor when no other information is available or for extension involving the mucosa only of adjacent sites. **Note 4:** Assign T4a or T4b for extension involving the deeper tissues of the primary or adjacent sites.

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
Physician assigns pTX, no other information available to determine T
p0 pT0 No evidence of primary tumor#
p3 pT3 Tumor limited to the epithelium and/or submucosa (mucosal disease) Tumor extension involving mucosa of:
Buccal mucosa (inner cheek)
Floor of mouth
Hard palate
Lateral pharyngeal wall
Lip, NOS (labial mucosa)
Lower lip (labial mucosa)
Soft palate including uvula
Tongue mucosa
Lateral pharyngeal wall
Tonsillar pillars and fossae
Tonsils
Upper gingiva

Extension via mucosa to upper lip (labial mucosa)

Localized, NOS

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:
Deep soft tissue
Cartilage
Bone
Overlying skin
Involvement of deep tissue or periosteum of lower gum

Bone, NOS except mandible, base of skull
Cortical bone of maxilla or palatine bone
Deep soft tissues or musculature of upper lip
Facial muscle, NOS
Maxilla, NOS
Maxillary sinus (antrum)
Nasal cavity
Palatine bone, NOS
Skin of face
Subcutaneous soft tissue of face

Extrinsic muscle of tongue:
Genioglossus
Hyoglossus
Palatoglossus
Styloglossus

Cartilage of mandible
Cortical bone of mandible
Mandible, NOS

Stated as T4a
p4B pT4b Tumor invades any of the following:
Brain
Dura
Skull base
Lower cranial nerves (IX, X, XI, XII)
Masticator space
Carotid artery
Prevertebral space
Mediastinal structures
Contiguous extension:
Base of skull
Pterygoid plates

Stated as T4b
88 88 Not applicable In situ case but no pTis is defined by TNM
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]. \# TX, T0 and T4 [NOS] are not defined in AJCC 7th edition.