Pathologic N
This input is used for staging
Notes
Note 1: Histological examination of a regional lymphadenectomy specimen will ordinarily include 6 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).
Note 3: Pericholedochal (common bile duct) lymph nodes are coded in N (regional lymph nodes) for primaries of the duodenum. They are coded in M (distant metastasis) for primaries of other small intestine subsites.
Regional lymph nodes
Duodenum primaries (C170)
Duodenal
Gastroduodenal
Hepatic
Pancreaticoduodenal
Pericholodochal (common bile duct)
Pyloric: infrapyloric, subpyloric
Superior mesenteric
Jejunum primaries (C171)
Mesenteric, NOS
Superior mesenteric
Ileum primaries (C172)
Cecal (anterior, posterior, retrocecal)
Ileocecal
Mesenteric, NOS
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 nodes, 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 | 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 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., 84
# NX is not defined in AJCC 7th edition.