Part of Cancer staging guidance sheets
Prostate tumours (ICD10 C61.9)
Introduction
This is the data sheet for TNM 9th edition staging of prostate tumours (ICD10 C61.9).
For more detailed information regarding TNM staging, please see pages 187-189 of the UICC TNM 9 book.
Stage groupings
Clinical stage
|
Stage Group |
T stage |
N stage |
M stage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stage I |
T1, cT2a |
N0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage II |
pT2 |
cN0 |
cM0 |
|
|
cT2b, cT2c |
N0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage III |
T3, T4 |
N0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IV |
Any T |
N1 |
cM0 |
|
|
Any T |
Any N |
cM1 |
Pathological stage1,2
|
Stage Group |
T stage |
N stage |
M stage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stage II |
pT2 |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage III |
pT3, pT4 |
pN0 |
cM0 |
|
Stage IV |
Any pT |
pN1 |
cM0 |
|
|
Any T |
Any N |
pM1 |
Note
1 There is no pathological stage I
2 The AJCC also publish a prognostic group for prostate tumours
TNM clinical classification
T - primary tumour
|
T value |
Description |
|---|---|
|
cTX |
Primary tumour cannot be assessed |
|
cT0 |
No evidence of primary tumour |
|
cT1 |
Clinically inapparent tumour that is not palpable cT1a - Tumour incidental histological finding in 5% or less of tissue resected cT1b - Tumour incidental histological finding in more than 5% of tissue resected cT1c - Tumour identified by needle biopsy (e.g., because of elevated PSA) |
|
cT2 |
Tumour that is palpable and confined within prostate cT2a - Tumour involves one half of one lobe or less cT2b - Tumour involves more than half of one lobe, but not both lobes cT2c - Tumour involves both lobes |
|
cT3 |
Tumour extends through the prostatic capsule* cT3a - Extraprostatic extension (unilateral or bilateral) including microscopic bladder neck involvement cT3b - Tumour invades seminal vesicle(s) |
|
cT4 |
Tumour is fixed or invades adjacent structures other than seminal vesicles: external sphincter, rectum, levator muscles, and/or pelvic wall |
Note
* Invasion into the prostatic apex or into (but not beyond) the prostatic capsule is not classified as cT3, but as cT2
N - regional lymph nodes1
|
N value |
Description |
|---|---|
|
cNX |
Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed |
|
cN0 |
No regional lymph node metastasis |
|
cN1 |
Regional lymph node metastasis |
M - distant metastasis2
|
M value |
Description |
|---|---|
|
M0 |
No distant metastasis |
|
M1 |
Distant metastasis M1a - Non‐regional lymph node(s) M1b - Bone(s) M1c - Other site(s) |
Note
Due to the effect of stage migration, it is important that the procedures for determining the T, N, and M categories are recorded when known. The use of different imaging techniques in prostate cancer has resulted in increasing stage migration, particularly when MRI is used rather than palpation to determine the T category or PSMAPET is used to assess lymph node status and metastases. If the imaging technique used is known, the suffix abbreviations for MRI and PET below should be used. If not known nor recorded, it is assumed that the T category has been determined by palpation.
MRI: (mr). e.g., T2b(mr), Stage II(mr)
PSMAPET: (PET), e.g., N1(PET), Stage IV(PET)
1 Metastasis no larger than 0.2 cm can be designated pNmi. (See introduction, pN, page 7).
2 When more than one site of metastasis is present, the most advanced category is used. (p)M1c is the most advanced category
pTNM pathological classification
The pT and pN categories correspond to the cT and cN categories.
However, there is no pT1 category because there is insufficient tissue to assess the highest pT category. There are no sub-categories of pT2.
Last edited: 16 January 2026 3:51 pm
