Part of Cancer staging guidance sheets
Thyroid gland (ICD10 C73.9)
This is the data sheet for TNM 9th edition staging of the thyroid gland (ICD10 C73.9).
For more detailed information regarding TNM staging, please see pages 53-56 of the UICC TNM 9 book.
Stage groupings
Papillary and Follicular under 55 years
|
Stage Group |
T stage |
N stage |
M stage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stage I |
Any T |
Any N |
M0 |
|
Stage II |
Any T |
Any N |
M1 |
Papillary or Follicular 55 years and older
|
Stage I |
T1a,T1b,T2 |
N0 |
M0 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stage II |
T3 |
N0 |
M0 |
|
T1,T2,T3 |
N1 |
M0 |
|
|
Stage III |
T4a |
Any N |
M0 |
|
Stage IVA |
T4b |
Any N |
M0 |
|
Stage IVB |
Any T |
Any N |
M1 |
Medullary carcinoma
|
Stage I |
T1a, T1b |
N0 |
M0 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stage II |
T2, T3 |
N0 |
M0 |
|
Stage III |
T1, T2, T3 |
N1a |
M0 |
|
Stage IVA |
T1, T2, T3 |
N1b |
M0 |
|
|
T4a |
Any N |
M0 |
|
Stage IVB |
T4b |
Any N |
M0 |
|
Stage IVC |
Any T |
Any N |
M1 |
Anaplastic
|
Stage IVA |
T1,T2,T3a |
N0 |
M0 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stage IVB |
T1,T2,T3a |
N1 |
M0 |
|
Stage IVB |
T3b,T4a,T4b |
N0,N1 |
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 |
|
cT1 |
Tumour 2 cm or less in greatest dimension, limited to the thyroid cT1a - Tumour 1 cm or less in greatest dimension, limited to the thyroid cT1b - Tumour more than 1 cm but not more than 2 cm in greatest dimension, limited to the thyroid |
|
cT2 |
Tumour more than 2 cm but not more than 4 cm in greatest dimension, limited to the thyroid |
|
cT3 |
Tumour more than 4 cm in greatest dimension, limited to the thyroid or with gross extrathyroidal extension invading only strap muscles (sternohyoid, sternothyroid, or omohyoid muscles) or parathyroid gland cT3a - Tumour more than 4 cm in greatest dimension, limited to the thyroid cT3b - Tumour of any size with gross extrathyroidal extension invading strap muscles (sternohyoid, sternothyroid, or omohyoid muscles) or parathyroid gland |
|
cT4a |
Tumour extends beyond the thyroid capsule and invades any of the following: subcutaneous soft tissues, larynx, trachea, oesophagus, recurrent laryngeal nerve or the sternocleidomastoid muscle |
|
cT4b |
Tumour invades prevertebral fascia, mediastinal vessels, or encases carotid artery |
Note:
*Including papillary, follicular, poorly differentiated, Hurthle cell and anaplastic carcinomas
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 cN1a - Metastasis in Level VI (pretracheal, paratracheal, and prelaryngeal/Delphian lymph nodes) or upper/superior mediastinum cN1b - Metastasis in other unilateral, bilateral or contralateral cervical (Levels I, II III, IV, or V) or retropharyngeal |
M - distant metastasis
|
M value |
Description |
|---|---|
|
cM0 |
No distant metastasis |
|
cM1 |
Distant Metastasis |
TNM pathological classification
pT - primary tumour
The pT and pN categories correspond to the cT and cN categories.
|
pN value |
Description |
|---|---|
|
pN0 |
Histological examination of a selective neck dissection specimen should ordinarily include six 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 4:00 pm