Part of Cancer staging guidance sheets

Malignant melanoma of upper aerodigestive tract (ICD10 C00-06, C09-14, C30-32)

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Introduction

This is the data sheet for TNM 9th edition staging of Data sheet for TNM 9th edition staging of malignant melanomas of upper aerodigestive tract (ICD10 C00-06, C10-14, C30-32).

For more detailed information regarding TNM staging, please see pages 48-49 of the UICC TNM 9 book.

Stage groupings

Stage Group	T stage	N stage	M stage
Stage III	T3	N0	M0
Stage IVA	T4a	N0	M0
	T3, T4a	N1	M0
Stage IVB	T4b	Any N	M0
Stage IVC	Any T	Any N	M1

TNM clinical classification

T - primary tumour

T value	Description
cTX	Primary tumour cannot be assessed
cT0	No evidence of primary tumour
cT3	Tumour limited to the epithelium and/or submucosa (mucosal disease)
cT4a	Tumour invades deep soft tissue, cartilage, bone, or overlying skin
cT4b	Tumour invades any of the following: brain, dura, skull base, lower cranial nerves (IX, X, XI, XII), masticator space, carotid artery, prevertebral space, mediastinal structures

Note:

Mucosal melanomas are aggressive tumours, therefore T1 and T2 are omitted as are stages I and II.

N - regional lymph nodes

N value	Description
cNX	Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
cN0	No regional lymph node metastasis
cN1	Regional lymph node metastasis

M - distant metastasis

M value	Description
cM0	No distant metastasis
cM1	Distant Metastasis

TNM pathological classification

The pT and pN categories correspond to the cT and cN categories

pN value	Description
pN0	Histological examination of a regional lymphadenectomy specimen will ordinarily include 6 or more lymph nodes. If the lymph nodes are negative, but the number ordinarily examined is not met, classify as pN0.