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, NOS

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
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)