Pathologic T

This input is used for staging

Notes

**Note 1:** Parapharyngeal involvement denotes postero-lateral infiltration of tumor beyond the pharyngobasilar fascia. The pharyngobasilar fascia is the fibrous layer of the pharyngeal wall between the mucosa and the muscular layer, attached superiorly to the basilar part of the occipital bone and diminishing in thickness as it descends. **Note 2:** The masticator space primarily consists of the muscles of mastication, the medial and lateral pterygoid, masseter, and temporalis muscles. The space also includes the ramus of the mandible and the third division of cranial nerve V as it passes through the foramen ovale into the suprahyoid neck.

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
pIS pTis Carcinoma in situ Intraepithelial, noninvasive

Stated as Tis
p1 pT1 Tumor confined to nasopharynx, OR
extends to oropharynx and/or nasal cavity
Invasive tumor confined to one of the following subsites:
Inferior wall (superior surface of soft palate)
One lateral wall
Posterior superior wall (vault)

Involvement of two or more subsites:
Lateral wall extending into eustachian
tube/middle ear
Posterior, inferior, or lateral wall(s)

Oropharynx
Soft palate, inferior surface including uvula WITHOUT parapharyngeal extension

Nasal cavity WITHOUT parapharyngeal extension

Extension to soft tissue, NOS (excluding soft tissue of neck)

Confined to nasopharynx
Localized, NOS

Stated as T1
p2 pT2 Tumor with parapharyngeal extension Involvement of any T1 tumor:
WITH fixation or tumor described only as FIXED WITH parapharyngeal extension

Pterygopalatine fossa WITHOUT bone invasion

Stated as T2
p3 pT3 Tumor invades bony structures of skull base and/or paranasal sinuses Bone, NOS
Bony structures of skull base
Cartilage, NOS
Floor of orbit
Hard palate
Paranasal sinus

Stated as T3
p4 pT4 Tumor with intracranial extension and/or involvement of:
Cranial nerves
Hypopharynx
Orbit

OR with extension to the infratemporal fossa/masticator space
Brain
Cranial nerve involvement
Hypopharynx
Infratemporal fossa/masticator space
Intracranial extension, NOS
Orbit except bone of floor of orbit

Further contiguous extension including:
Soft tissues of neck

Stated as T4
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)