Pathologic N
This input is used for staging
Notes
**Note 1:** Histological examination of a regional lymphadenectomy specimen will ordinarily include 16 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:** Assign N1 if regional lymph nodes are involved but there is no indication of the number of nodes involved. **Note 4:** Assign as regional node metastases when there are metastatic nodules in the fat adjacent to a gastric carcinoma WITHOUT evidence of residual lymph node tissue; assign as M (distant metastases) for nodules implanted on peritoneal surfaces. **Regional lymph nodes** Celiac Hepatic Hepatoduodenal (for lesser curvature) Left gastric (superior gastric), NOS Cardial Cardioesophageal Gastric, left Gastropancreatic, left Lesser curvature Lesser omental Paracardial Nodule(s) in perigastric fat Pancreaticosplenic (pancreaticolienal) Pancreaticoduodenal Perigastric, NOS Peripancreatic Right gastric (inferior gastric), NOS Gastrocolic Gastroduodenal Gastroepiploic (gastro-omental), right or NOS Gastrohepatic Greater curvature Greater omental Pyloric, NOS: infrapyloric, subpyloric, suprapyloric Splenic (lienal), NOS Gastroepiploic (gastro-omental), left Splenic hilar Regional lymph nodes, NOS Lymph nodes, NOSNAACCR 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 | Metastasis in 1-2 regional lymph nodes | Regional lymph nodes, NOS Lymph nodes, NOS Stated as N1 |
| p2 | pN2 | Metastasis in 3-6 regional lymph nodes | Stated as N2 |
| p3 | pN3 | Metastasis in 7 or more regional lymph nodes | Note: N3 has subcategories of N3a and N3b. Assign N3 only when there is no information available to assign one of the subcategories Stated as N3 [NOS] |
| p3A | pN3a | Metastasis in 7-15 regional lymph nodes | Stated as N3a |
| p3B | pN3b | Metastasis in 16 or more regional lymph nodes | Stated as N3b |
| 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) |