Part of Cancer staging guidance sheets
Oesophagus including oesophagogastric junction (ICD10 C15, C16.0)
Introduction
This is the data sheet for TNM 9th edition staging of the oesophagus including oesophagogastric junction (ICD10 C15 & C16.0).
For more detailed information regarding TNM staging, please see pages 60-65 of the UICC TNM 9 book.
Stage groupings
Squamous Cell Carcinoma - clinical stage*
|
Stage Group |
T stage |
N stage |
M stage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stage 0 |
Tis |
N0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage I |
T1 |
N0, N1 |
cM0 |
|
Stage II |
T2 |
N0, N1 |
cM0 |
|
|
T3 |
N0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage III |
T1, T2 |
N2 |
cM0 |
|
|
T3 |
N1, N2 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IVA |
T4a, T4b |
N0, N1, N2 |
cM0 |
|
|
Any T |
N3 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IVB |
Any T |
Any N |
cM1 |
Squamous Cell Carcinoma - pathological stage*
|
Stage Group |
T stage |
N stage |
M stage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stage 0 |
pTis |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IA |
pT1a |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IB |
pT1b |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IIA |
pT2 |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IIB |
pT1 |
pN1 |
cM0 |
|
|
pT3 |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IIIA |
pT1 |
pN2 |
cM0 |
|
|
pT2 |
pN1 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IIIB |
PT2 |
pN2 |
cM0 |
|
|
pT3 |
pN1, pN2 |
cM0 |
|
|
pT4a |
pN0, pN1 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IVA |
pT4a |
pN2 |
pM0 |
|
|
pT4b |
Any pN |
cM0 |
|
|
Any pT |
pN3 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IVB |
Any T |
Any N |
pM1 |
Adenocarcinoma - clinical stage*
|
Stage Group |
T stage |
N stage |
M stage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stage 0 |
Tis |
N0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage I |
T1 |
N0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IIA |
T1 |
N1 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IIB |
T2 |
N0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage III |
T2 |
N1 |
cM0 |
|
|
T3, T4a |
N0,N1 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IVA |
T1-T4a |
N2 |
cM0 |
|
|
T4b |
N0, N1, N2 |
cM0 |
|
|
Any T |
N3 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IVB |
Any T |
Any N |
cM1 |
Adenocarcinoma pathological stage*
|
Stage Group |
T stage |
N stage |
M stage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stage 0 |
pTis |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IA |
pT1a |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IB |
pT1b |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IIA |
pT2 |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IIB |
pT1 |
pN1 |
cM0 |
|
|
pT3 |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IIIA |
pT1 |
pN2 |
cM0 |
|
|
pT2 |
pN1 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IIIB |
pT2 |
pN2 |
cM0 |
|
|
pT3 |
pN1, pN2 |
cM0 |
|
|
pT4a |
pN0, pN1 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IVA |
pT4a |
pN2 |
cM0 |
|
|
pT4b |
Any pN |
cM0 |
|
|
Any pT |
pN3 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IVB |
Any pT |
Any pN |
pM1 |
Note
*If the T or N category is clinical and the other category is pathological, the clinical stage should be used, unless the M category is pM1, in which case the pathological stage is used regardless of whether the T and N categories are pathological or clinical: e.g., for squamous cell carcinoma, pT2cN1 Stage as Clinical Stage II.
TNM clinical classification
T - primary tumour
|
T value |
Description |
|---|---|
|
cTX |
Primary tumour cannot be assessed |
|
cT0 |
No evidence of primary tumour |
|
cTis |
Carcinoma in situ/highâgrade dysplasia |
|
cT1 |
Tumour invades lamina propria, muscularis mucosae, or submucosa |
|
|
cT1a - Tumour invades lamina propria or muscularis mucosae |
|
|
cT1b - Tumour invades submucosa |
|
cT2 |
Tumour invades muscularis propria |
|
cT3 |
Tumour invades adventitia including peri-oesophageal fat |
|
cT4 |
Tumour invades adjacent structures |
|
|
cT4a - Tumour invades pleura, pericardium, azygos vein, diaphragm, or peritoneum |
|
|
cT4b - Tumour invades other adjacent structures such as aorta, vertebral body, or trachea |
N - regional lymph nodes
|
N value |
Description |
|---|---|
|
cNX |
Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed |
|
cN0 |
No regional lymph node metastasis |
|
cN1 |
Metastasis in 1 to 2 regional lymph nodes |
|
cN2 |
Metastasis in 3 to 6 regional lymph nodes |
|
cN3 |
Metastasis in 7 or more regional lymph nodes |
M - distant metastasis
|
M value |
Description |
|---|---|
|
M0 |
No distant metastasis |
|
M1 |
Distant Metastasis |
TNM pathological classification
The pT and pN categories correspond to the cT and cN categories as per above.
|
pN value |
Description |
|---|---|
|
pN0 |
Histological examination of a regional lymphadenectomy specimen will ordinarily include 7 or more lymph nodes. If the lymph nodes are negative, but the number ordinarily examined is not met, classify as pN0 |
Last edited: 16 January 2026 4:21 pm