Clinical N

This input is used for staging

Notes

Note 1: Code only regional nodes and nodes, NOS, in this field. Distant nodes are coded in M (distant metastasis).

Note 2: Regional lymph node involvement is rare for GISTs, so that cases in which the nodal status is not associated clinically are classified as cN0 instead of cNX.

Regional lymph nodes

All colon sites

Colic [NOS] 
Epicolic (adjacent to bowel wall) 
Mesocolic [NOS] 
Mesenteric [NOS]
Paracolic/pericolic

Cecum (C180)

Anterior (prececal)
Cecal [NOS]
Ileocolic
Periappendiceal
Posterior (retrocecal)
Right colic

Ascending colon (C182)

Ileocolic
Middle colic
Right colic

Hepatic flexure (C183)

Middle colic 
Right colic

Transverse colon (C184)

Inferior mesenteric 
Left colic 
Middle colic 
Right colic

Splenic flexure (C185)

Inferior mesenteric 
Left colic 
Middle colic

Descending colon (C186)

Inferior mesenteric 
Left colic 
Sigmoid

Sigmoid colon (C187)

Inferior mesenteric 
Left colic 
Rectosigmoid 
Sigmoid 
Sigmoidal (sigmoid mesenteric) 
Superior hemorrhoidal 
Superior rectal

NAACCR Item

NAACCR #950

Clinical N	Clinical N Display	Description	Registrar Notes
cX	cNX	Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed#	Clinical classification criteria met, evaluation done: Physician unable to assess N Regional lymph node involvement cannot be determined or findings inconclusive Physician assigns cNX, no other information available to determine N
c0	cN0	No regional lymph node metastasis
c1	cN1	Regional lymph node metastasis	Nodule(s) or foci in pericolic fat/adjacent mesentery/mesocolic fat Regional lymph nodes, NOS Lymph nodes, NOS Stated as N1
88	88	Not applicable	In situ case but no pTis is defined by TNM 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 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)

# NX is not defined in AJCC 7th edition.