Part of Cancer staging guidance sheets
Melanoma of skin (ICD10 C00.0-2, C00.6, C21.2, C43, C51, C60, C63.2)
Data sheet for TNM 9th edition staging of the malignant melanoma of skin (ICD10 C00.0-2, C00.6, C21.2, C43, C51, C60, C63.2)
Summary
Data sheet for TNM 9th edition staging of the malignant melanoma of skin (ICD10 C00.0-2, C00.6, C21.2, C43, C51, C60, C63.2)
Introduction
This is the data sheet for TNM 9th edition staging of the malignant melanoma of skin (ICD10 C00.0-2, C00.6, C21.2, C43, C51, C60, C63.2)
For more detailed information regarding TNM staging, please see pages 144-148 of the UICC TNM 9 book.
Stage groupings
Clinical stage
|
Stage Group |
T stage |
N stage |
M stage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stage 0 |
Tis |
N0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IA |
T1a |
N0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IB |
T1b |
N0 |
cM0 |
|
T2a |
N0 |
cM0 |
|
|
Stage IIA |
T2b |
N0 |
cM0 |
|
|
T3a |
N0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IIB |
T3b |
N0 |
cM0 |
|
|
T4a |
N0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IIC |
T4b |
N0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage III |
Any T |
N1, N2, N3 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IV |
Any T |
Any N |
cM1 |
Pathological stage*
|
Stage Group |
T stage |
N stage |
M stage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Stage 0 |
pTis |
c/pN0 |
cM0 |
|
|
Stage I |
pT1 |
|
cM0 |
|
|
Stage IA |
pT1a |
|
cM0 |
|
|
pT1b |
|
cM0 |
||
|
Stage IB |
pT2a |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
|
Stage IIA |
pT2b |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
|
|
pT3a |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
|
Stage IIB |
pT3b |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
|
|
pT4a |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
|
Stage IIC |
pT4b |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
|
Stage III |
Any pT |
pN1, pN2, pN3 |
cM0 |
|
|
Stage IIIA |
pT1a, T1b, T2a |
pN1a, pN2a |
cM0 |
|
|
Stage IIIB |
pT1a, T1b, T2a |
pN1b, pN1c, pN2b |
cM0 |
|
|
|
pT2b-T3a |
pN1, pN2a, pN2b |
cM0 |
|
|
Stage IIIC |
pT1a, T1b, T2a, T2b, T3a |
pN2c, pN3 |
cM0 |
|
|
|
pT3b, T4a |
N1, N2, N3 |
cM0 |
|
|
|
pT4b |
N1, N2 |
cM0 |
|
|
Stage IIID |
pT4b |
N3 |
cM0 |
|
|
Stage IV |
Any pT |
Any N |
M1 |
Note: * If lymph node(s) are identified with no apparent primary the stage is as below
|
Stage IIIB |
pT0 |
N1b, N1c |
M0 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stage IIIC |
pT0 |
N2b, N2c, N3b, N3c |
M0 |
TNM clinical classification
T - primary tumour
The extent of the tumour is classified after excision, see pT.
N - regional lymph nodes
|
N value |
Description |
|---|---|
|
cNX |
Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed |
|
cN0 |
No regional lymph node metastasis |
|
cN1 |
Metastasis in one regional lymph node or intralymphatic regional metastasis without nodal metastases N1a - Only microscopic metastasis (clinically occult) N1b - Macroscopic metastasis (clinically apparent) N1c - Satellite or in‐transit metastasis without regional nodal metastasis |
|
cN2 |
Metastasis in two or three regional lymph nodes or satellite or in-transit metastasis with lymph node metastases cN2a - Metastasis in two or three regional lymph nodes, with only microscopic nodal metastasis cN2b - Metastasis in two or three regional lymph nodes, clinically detected in at least one node cN2c - Satellite or in‐transit metastasis with only one regional nodal metastasis, (microscopic or clinical) |
|
cN3 |
Metastasis in four or more regional lymph nodes, or matted metastatic regional lymph nodes, or satellite(s) or in‐transit metastasis with metastasis in two or more regional lymph node(s) cN3a - Metastasis in four or more regional lymph nodes with only microscopic nodal metastasis cN3b - Metastasis in four or more regional lymph nodes clinically detected in at least one node, or two or more matted nodes cN3c - Satellite(s) or in‐transit metastasis either with two or more regional nodal metastasis (microscopic or clinical) or two or more matted nodes |
M - distant metastasis
|
M value |
Description |
|---|---|
|
M0 |
No distant metastasis |
|
M1 |
Distant metastasis* M1a - Skin, subcutaneous tissue or lymph node(s) beyond the regional lymph nodes M1b - Lung M1c - Other non‐central nervous system sites M1d - Central nervous sy stem |
Note:
* Suffixes for M category:
(0) lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) – not elevated
(1) LDH – elevated so that M1a(1) is metastasis in skin, subcutaneous tissue, or lymph node(s) beyond the regional lymph nodes with elevated LDH.
No suffix is used if LDH is not recorded or unspecified.
pTNM pathological classification
pT - primary tumour
|
pT value |
Description |
|---|---|
|
pTX |
Primary tumour cannot be assessed1 |
|
pT0 |
No evidence of primary tumour or regressed melanomas |
|
pTis |
Melanoma in situ (Clark level I) |
|
pT1 |
Tumour 1 mm or less in thickness2 pT1a – less than 0.8 mm in thickness without ulceration pT1b – less than 0.8 mm in thickness with ulceration or 0.8 mm or more but no more than 1mm in thickness, with or without ulceration |
|
pT2 |
Tumour more than 1 mm but not more than 2 mm in thickness pT2a - without ulceration pT2b - with ulceration |
|
pT3 |
Tumour more than 2 mm but not more than 4 mm in thickness pT3a - without ulceration pT3b - with ulceration |
|
pT4 |
Tumour more than 4 mm in thickness pT4a - without ulceration pT4b - with ulceration |
1 pTX includes shave biopsies and regressed melanomas
2Tumour thickness measurements are rounded to the nearest 0.1 mm before the T category is assigned
pN - regional lymph nodes
The pN categories correspond to the 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. Classification based solely on sentinel node biopsy without subsequent axillary lymph node dissection is designated (sn) for sentinel node, e.g., (p)N1(sn). |
Last edited: 16 January 2026 4:18 pm
