Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Esophageal cancer staging
Introduction
Overview
Overview
According to the American Joint Committee on Cancer, there are 4 stages of esophageal cancer based on the tumor spread.
Staging
Staging
The American Joint Committee on Cancer has designated staging by TNM classification to define cancer of the esophagus and esophagogastric junction:[1][2]
Primary Tumor (T)
- TX: Primary tumor cannot be assessed
- T0: No evidence of primary tumor
- Tis: High-grade dysplasia
- T1: Tumor invades lamina propria, muscularis mucosa, or submucosa
- T1a: Tumor invades lamina propria or muscularis mucosae
- T1b: Tumor invades submucosa
- T2: Tumor invades muscularis propria
- T3: Tumor invades adventitia
- T4: Tumor invades adjacent structures
- T4a: Resectable tumor invading pleura, pericardium, or diaphragm
- T4b: Unresectable tumor invading other adjacent structures, such as aorta, vertebral body, trachea, etc.
Regional Lymph Nodes (N)
- NX: Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
- N0: No regional lymph node metastasis
- N1: Metastases in 1–2 regional lymph nodes
- N2: Metastases in 3–6 regional lymph nodes
- N3: Metastases in ≥7 regional lymph nodes
Distant Metastasis (M)
- M0: No distant metastasis
- M1: Distant metastasis
American Joint Committee on Cancer stage groupings[3]
American Joint Committee on Cancer stage groupings[3]
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
| Stage | T | N | M | Grade | Tumor Location |
| 0 | Tis | N0 | M0 | 1, X | Any |
| IA | T1 | N0 | M0 | 1, X | Any |
| IB | T1 | N0 | M0 | 2–3 | Any |
| T2–3 | N0 | M0 | 1, X | Lower, X | |
| IIA | T2–3 | N0 | M0 | 1, X | Upper, middle |
| T2–3 | N0 | M0 | 2–3 | Lower, X | |
| IIB | T2–3 | N0 | M0 | 2–3 | Upper, middle |
| T1–2 | N1 | M0 | Any | Any | |
| IIIA | T1–2 | N2 | M0 | Any | Any |
| T3 | N1 | M0 | Any | Any | |
| T4a | N0 | M0 | Any | Any | |
| IIIB | T3 | N2 | M0 | Any | Any |
| IIIC | T4a | N1–2 | M0 | Any | Any |
| T4b | Any | M0 | Any | Any | |
| Any | N3 | M0 | Any | Any | |
| IV | Any | Any | M1 | Any | Any |
Adenocarcinoma
| Stage | T | N | M | Grade |
| 0 | Tis | N0 | M0 | 1, X |
| IA | T1 | N0 | M0 | 1–2, X |
| IB | T1 | N0 | M0 | 3 |
| T2 | N0 | M0 | 1–2, X | |
| IIA | T2 | N0 | M0 | 3 |
| IIB | T3 | N0 | M0 | Any |
| T1–2 | N1 | M0 | Any | |
| IIIA | T1–2 | N2 | M0 | Any |
| T3 | N1 | M0 | Any | |
| T4a | N0 | M0 | Any | |
| IIIB | T3 | N2 | M0 | Any |
| IIIC | T4a | N1–2 | M0 | Any |
| T4b | Any | M0 | Any | |
| Any | N3 | M0 | Any | |
| IV | Any | Any | M1 | Any |
References
References
- ↑ Rice TW, Rusch VW, Ishwaran H, Blackstone EH (2010). “Cancer of the esophagus and esophagogastric junction: data-driven staging for the seventh edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer/International Union Against Cancer Cancer Staging Manuals”. Cancer. 116 (16): 3763–73. doi:10.1002/cncr.25146. PMID 20564099.
- ↑ Rüdiger Siewert J, Feith M, Werner M, Stein HJ (2000). “Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction: results of surgical therapy based on anatomical/topographic classification in 1,002 consecutive patients”. Ann. Surg. 232 (3): 353–61. PMC 1421149. PMID 10973385.
- ↑ “Stages of Esophageal Cancer”.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hadeel Maksoud M.D.[2]