Clinical 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 #940
Clinical T Clinical T Display Description Registrar Notes
cX cTX Primary tumor cannot be assessed# Clinical classification criteria met, evaluation done:
Physician unable to assess T
Extension cannot be determined
Physician assigns cTX, no other information available to determine T
c0 cT0 No evidence of primary tumor#
c3 cT3 Tumor limited to the epithelium and/or submucosa (mucosal disease) Tumor confined to mucosa of hard palate on one side

Tumor confined to mucosa of hard palate and crossing midline

Extension involving mucosa only:
Buccal mucosa (inner cheek)
Gingiva, upper
Glossopalatine arch
Pharyngopalatine arch
Soft palate
Uvula

Localized, NOS

Stated as T3
c4 cT4 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]
c4A cT4a Tumor invades:
Deep soft tissue
Cartilage
Bone
Overlying skin
Involvement of deep tissue or periosteum of hard palate
Involvement of deep tissue hard palate plus mucosal involvement of any structure in T3
Involvement of deep soft tissue or musculature of any structure in T3

Bone, NOS except base of skull
Cartilage, NOS
Cartilage of maxilla or palatine bone
Cortical bone, NOS
Cortical bone of maxilla or palatine bone
Floor of nose
Maxilla, NOS
Maxillary sinus (antrum)
Nasal cavity
Nasopharynx
Palatine bone, NOS
Pterygoid plate
Skin of face

Stated as T4a
c4B cT4b 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
Contiguous extension:
Base of skull base (including sphenoid bone other than pterygoid plates)
Carotid artery (encased)

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 Clinical classification criteria not met
Clinical classification criteria met, evaluation done:
No information about diagnostic workup
Results not documented in record
Clinical evaluation of primary tumor not done or unknown if done
Tumor first detected on surgical resection (no clinical workup)
Evidence of metastatic disease [(cM1) or (pM1)], no other workup
Only Clinical 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.