Pathologic N

This input is used for staging

Notes

Note 1: Histological examination of a regional lymphadenectomy specimen will ordinarily include 10 or more lymph nodes. If the lymph nodes are negative, but the number ordinarily examined is not met, classify as pN0. (1)

Note 2: Code only regional nodes and nodes, NOS, in this field. Distant nodes are coded in M (distant metastasis).

Regional lymph nodes

Hepatic
Lateral aortic (lumbar)
Peripancreatic, NOS
    Anterior, NOS
        Anterior pancreaticoduodenal
        Anterior proximal mesenteric
        Pyloric
    Inferior to the head and body of pancreas
    Posterior, NOS
        Pericholedochal (common bile duct)
        Posterior pancreaticoduodenal
        Posterior proximal mesentery
    Superior to the head and body of pancreas
Pyloric
    Infrapyloric
    Retropyloric
    Suprapyloric
    Subpyloric
Retroperitoneal
Superior mesenteric

NAACCR Item

NAACCR #890

Pathologic N	Pathologic N Display	Description	Registrar Notes
pX	pNX	Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed	Pathologic classification criteria met, evaluation done: Physician unable to assess N Surgical resection primary tumor, no regional lymph nodes removed Involvement of regional lymph nodes not documented Physician assigns pNX, no other information available to determine N
p0	pN0	No regional lymph node metastasis
p1	pN1	Regional lymph node metastasis	Regional lymph node(s), NOS Lymph nodes, NOS Stated as N1
c0	cN0	Clinically: No regional lymph node metastasis	Use only for TNM defined pTis cases where there is a resection of the primary and the nodes are not evaluated pathologically
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 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)

(1) International Union Against Cancer (UICC) TNM Classification of Malignant Tumors, 7th ed., Sobin, LH, Gospodarowicz, M, Wittekind, CH, eds. New York: Wiley, 2009, pg., 134