Pathologic T

This input is used for staging

Notes

**Note 1:** Assign 88 for in situ cases (behavior code /2). TNM does not include an in situ category for mucosal melanoma tumors. **Note 2:** Mucosal melanomas are aggressive tumors, therefore, T1 and T2 are omitted, as are Stages I and II. **Note 3:** Assign T3 for localized tumor when no other information is available or for extension involving the mucosa only of adjacent sites. **Note 4:** Assign T4a or T4b for extension involving the deeper tissues of the primary or adjacent sites.

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
Physician assigns pTX, no other information available to determine T
p0 pT0 No evidence of primary tumor#
p3 pT3 Tumor limited to the epithelium and/or submucosa (mucosal disease) Tumor extension involving mucosa of:
Adjacent subsite(s) of oropharynx
Adjacent subsite(s) of supraglottis (including posterior surface of epiglottis) WITHOUT fixation of larynx
Anterior surface of epiglottis with normal vocal cord mobility
Base of tongue WITHOUT fixation of larynx
Larynx, glottis or NOS WITHOUT fixation of larynx
Pyriform sinus, medial wall or NOS WITHOUT fixation of larynx
Vallecula WITHOUT fixation of larynx

Buccal mucosa
Mucosa of floor of mouth
Mucosa of gum (gingival)

Localized, NOS

Stated as T3
p4 pT4 Not defined by UICC*# Note: T4 has subcategories of T4a and T4b. Assign T4 only when there is no information available to assign one of the subcategories

Tumor invades bone, nerve or extrinsic deep muscles

Stated as T4[NOS]
p4A pT4a Tumor invades:
Deep soft tissue
Cartilage
Bone
Overlying skin
Involvement of deep tissue or musculature
Soft tissue, NOS

Anterior 2/3 of tongue
Esophagus
Hard palate
Hypopharynx, NOS
Minor thyroid cartilage erosion (inner cortex)
Nasopharynx, NOS
Paraglottic space
Parotid gland
Pre-epiglottic tissues
Postcricoid area
Pterygoid muscle
Pyriform sinus except medial wall
Soft palate
Soft tissues of neck
Strap muscles:
Omohyoid
Sternohyoid
Sternothyroid
Thyrohyoid
Thyroid
Thyroid cartilage, NOS
Trachea

Extrinsic muscles of tongue:
Genioglossus
Geniohyoid
Hyoglossus
Mylohyoid
Palatoglossus
Styloglossus

Stated as T4a
p4B pT4b Tumor invades any of the following:
Brain
Dura
Skull base
Lower cranial nerves (IX, X, XI, XII)
Masticator space
Carotid artery
Prevertebral space
Mediastinal structures
Prevertebral fascia or muscle
Prevertebral space

Further contiguous extension

Stated as T4b
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
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)
\* T4 [NOS] is not defined by UICC in the 7th edition. Approval has been provided by UICC to use "Tumor invades bone, nerve or extrinsic deep muscles" as T4 [NOS]. \# TX, T0 and T4 [NOS] are not defined in AJCC 7th edition.