Pathologic T
This input is used for staging
Notes
**Note 1:** T1 and T2 categories are based on size and high risk features and not depth of invasion or extension. **Note 2:** T3 category is for head and neck skin primaries only. **Note 3:** Code the tumor with the greatest extension when there are multiple simultaneous tumors. **Note 4:** Skin ulceration does not alter the T category. **Note 5:** Tumor size must be known to assign a value of T1 or T2. You may use a physician’s statement of the T category if this is the only information in the medical record. * If the tumor appears to be in the T1 or T2 categories, but no size or category is specified, assign TX **Note 6:** Assign the appropriate T category (T1, T2) based on the tumor size for the following descriptions Lesion(s) confined to dermis Subcutaneous tissue (through entire dermis) Underlying cartilage and/or skeletal muscle Confined to skin Localized, NOSNAACCR 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 Tumor size (TS) unknown for T categories where TS needed to determine T Physician assigns pTX, no other information available to determine T |
| p0 | pT0 | No evidence of primary tumor | |
| pIS | pTis | Carcinoma in situ | Intraepidermal, intraepithelial, noninvasive Bowen disease |
| p1 | pT1 | Tumor 2 cm or less in greatest dimension WITH less than two-high risk features |
Lesion(s) confined to dermis Subcutaneous tissue (through entire dermis) Underlying cartilage and/or skeletal muscle Stated as T1 |
| p2 | pT2 | Tumor more than 2 cm in greatest dimension OR WITH two or more high-risk features |
Stated as T2 |
| p3 | pT3 | Tumor with invasion of deep structures e.g., muscle, bone, cartilage, jaws, and orbit |
For skin of head and neck primaries only: Maxilla Mandible Orbital bone Temporal bone Stated as T3 |
| p4 | pT4 | Tumor with direct or perineural invasion of skull base or axial skeleton | For skin of head and neck primaries only: Direct or perineural invasion of skull base Axial or appendicular skeleton Further contiguous extension 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) |