TNM Classification for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumor/node/metastasis (TNM) classification and anatomic stage/prognostic grouping for non–small cell lung cancer are presented below.^[1]

See Clinical Presentations of Lung Cancer: Slideshow, a Critical Images slideshow, to help efficiently distinguish lung carcinomas from other lung lesions, as well as how to stage and treat them.

Table 1. TNM Classification for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (Open Table in a new window)

Primary tumor (T)
TX	Primary tumor cannot be assessed, or tumor is proven by the presence of malignant cells in sputum or bronchial washings but not visualized by imaging or bronchoscopy
T0	No evidence of primary tumor
Tis	Carcinoma in situ Squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCIS) Adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS): adenocarcinoma with pure lepidic pattern, ≤ 3 cm in greatest dimension
T1	Tumor ≤ 3 cm in greatest dimension, surrounded by lung or visceral pleura, without bronchoscopic evidence of invasion more proximal than the lobar bronchus (ie, not in the main bronchus)
T1mi	Minimally invasive adenocarcinoma: adenocarcinoma (≤ 3 cm in greatest dimension) with a predominantly lepidic pattern and ≤ 5 mm invasion in greatest dimension
T1a	Tumor ≤ 1 cm in greatest dimension. A superficial, spreading tumor of any size whose invasive component is limited to the bronchial wall and may extend proximal to the main bronchus also is classified as T1a, but those tumors are uncommon.
T1b	Tumor > 1 cm but ≤ 2 cm in greatest dimension
T1c	Tumor > 2 cm but ≤ 3 cm in greatest dimension
T2	Tumor > 3 cm but ≤ 5 cm or having any of the following features: Involves the main bronchus regardless of distance to the carina, but without involvement of the carina Invades visceral pleura (PL1 or PL2) Associated with atelectasis or obstructive pneumonitis extending to the hilar region, involving part or all of the lung T2 tumors with these features are classified as T2a if ≤ 4 cm or if the size cannot be determined and T2b if > 4 cm but ≤ 5 cm
T2a	Tumor > 3 cm but ≤ 4 cm in greatest dimension
T2b	Tumor > 4 cm but ≤ 5 cm in greatest dimension
T3	Tumor > 5 cm but ≤ 7 cm in greatest dimension or directly invading any of the following: parietal pleural (PL3), chest wall (including superior sulcus tumors), phrenic nerve, parietal pericardium; or separate tumor nodule(s) in the same lobe as the primary
T4	Tumor > 7 cm or tumor of any size that invades one or more of the following: diaphragm, mediastinum, heart, great vessels, trachea, recurrent laryngeal nerve, esophagus, vertebral body, or carina; or separate tumor nodule(s) in an ipsilateral lobe different from that of the primary
Regional lymph nodes (N)
NX	Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0	No regional node metastasis
N1	Metastasis in ipsilateral peribronchial and/or ipsilateral hilar lymph nodes and intrapulmonary nodes, including involvement by direct extension
N2	Metastasis in ipsilateral mediastinal and/or subcarinal lymph node(s)
N3	Metastasis in the contralateral mediastinal, contralateral hilar, ipsilateral or contralateral scalene, or supraclavicular lymph node(s)
Distant metastasis (M)
M0	No distant metastasis
M1	Distant metastasis
M1a	Separate tumor nodule(s) in a contralateral lobe tumor; tumor with pleural or pericardial nodules or malignant pleural or pericardial effusion. Most pleural (pericardial) effusion with lung cancer are a result of the tumor. In a few patients, however, multiple miscroscopic examinations of pleural (pericardial) fluid are negative for tumor, and the fluid is nonbloody and not an exudate. If these elements and clinical judgment dictate that the effusion is not related to the tumor, the effusion should be excluded as a staging descriptor.
M1b	Single extrathoracic metastasis in a single organ and involvement of a single nonregional node
M1c	Multiple extrathoracic metastases in a single organ or in multiple organs

Table 2. Anatomic stage/prognostic groups. (Open Table in a new window)

Stage	T	N	M
0	Tis	N0	M0
IA1	T1mi	N0	M0
IA1	T1a	N0	M0
IA2	T1b	N0	M0
IA3	T1c	N0	M0
IB	T2a	N0	M0
IIA	T2b	N0	M0
IIB	T1a	N1	M0
	T1b	N1	M0
	T1c	N1	M0
	T2a	N1	M0
	T2b	N1	M0
	T3	N0	M0
IIIA	T1a	N2	M0
	T1b	N2	M0
	T1c	N2	M0
	T2a	N2	M0
	T2b	N2	M0
	T3	N1	M0
	T4	N0	M0
	T4	N1	M0
IIIB	T1a	N3	M0
	T1b	N3	M0
	T1c	N3	M0
	T2a	N3	M0
	T2b	N3	M0
	T3	N2	M0
	T4	N2	M0
IIIC	T3	N3	M0
IIIC	T4	N3	M0
IVA	T Any	N Any	M1a
	T Any	N Any	M1b
IVB	T Any	N Any	M1c

Questions & Answers

Overview

What is the TNM classification for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)?

Media Gallery

of 0

Table 1. TNM Classification for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Primary tumor (T)
TX	Primary tumor cannot be assessed, or tumor is proven by the presence of malignant cells in sputum or bronchial washings but not visualized by imaging or bronchoscopy
T0	No evidence of primary tumor
Tis	Carcinoma in situ Squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCIS) Adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS): adenocarcinoma with pure lepidic pattern, ≤ 3 cm in greatest dimension
T1	Tumor ≤ 3 cm in greatest dimension, surrounded by lung or visceral pleura, without bronchoscopic evidence of invasion more proximal than the lobar bronchus (ie, not in the main bronchus)
T1mi	Minimally invasive adenocarcinoma: adenocarcinoma (≤ 3 cm in greatest dimension) with a predominantly lepidic pattern and ≤ 5 mm invasion in greatest dimension
T1a	Tumor ≤ 1 cm in greatest dimension. A superficial, spreading tumor of any size whose invasive component is limited to the bronchial wall and may extend proximal to the main bronchus also is classified as T1a, but those tumors are uncommon.
T1b	Tumor > 1 cm but ≤ 2 cm in greatest dimension
T1c	Tumor > 2 cm but ≤ 3 cm in greatest dimension
T2	Tumor > 3 cm but ≤ 5 cm or having any of the following features: Involves the main bronchus regardless of distance to the carina, but without involvement of the carina Invades visceral pleura (PL1 or PL2) Associated with atelectasis or obstructive pneumonitis extending to the hilar region, involving part or all of the lung T2 tumors with these features are classified as T2a if ≤ 4 cm or if the size cannot be determined and T2b if > 4 cm but ≤ 5 cm
T2a	Tumor > 3 cm but ≤ 4 cm in greatest dimension
T2b	Tumor > 4 cm but ≤ 5 cm in greatest dimension
T3	Tumor > 5 cm but ≤ 7 cm in greatest dimension or directly invading any of the following: parietal pleural (PL3), chest wall (including superior sulcus tumors), phrenic nerve, parietal pericardium; or separate tumor nodule(s) in the same lobe as the primary
T4	Tumor > 7 cm or tumor of any size that invades one or more of the following: diaphragm, mediastinum, heart, great vessels, trachea, recurrent laryngeal nerve, esophagus, vertebral body, or carina; or separate tumor nodule(s) in an ipsilateral lobe different from that of the primary
Regional lymph nodes (N)
NX	Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0	No regional node metastasis
N1	Metastasis in ipsilateral peribronchial and/or ipsilateral hilar lymph nodes and intrapulmonary nodes, including involvement by direct extension
N2	Metastasis in ipsilateral mediastinal and/or subcarinal lymph node(s)
N3	Metastasis in the contralateral mediastinal, contralateral hilar, ipsilateral or contralateral scalene, or supraclavicular lymph node(s)
Distant metastasis (M)
M0	No distant metastasis
M1	Distant metastasis
M1a	Separate tumor nodule(s) in a contralateral lobe tumor; tumor with pleural or pericardial nodules or malignant pleural or pericardial effusion. Most pleural (pericardial) effusion with lung cancer are a result of the tumor. In a few patients, however, multiple miscroscopic examinations of pleural (pericardial) fluid are negative for tumor, and the fluid is nonbloody and not an exudate. If these elements and clinical judgment dictate that the effusion is not related to the tumor, the effusion should be excluded as a staging descriptor.
M1b	Single extrathoracic metastasis in a single organ and involvement of a single nonregional node
M1c	Multiple extrathoracic metastases in a single organ or in multiple organs

Table 2. Anatomic stage/prognostic groups.

Stage	T	N	M
0	Tis	N0	M0
IA1	T1mi	N0	M0
IA1	T1a	N0	M0
IA2	T1b	N0	M0
IA3	T1c	N0	M0
IB	T2a	N0	M0
IIA	T2b	N0	M0
IIB	T1a	N1	M0
	T1b	N1	M0
	T1c	N1	M0
	T2a	N1	M0
	T2b	N1	M0
	T3	N0	M0
IIIA	T1a	N2	M0
	T1b	N2	M0
	T1c	N2	M0
	T2a	N2	M0
	T2b	N2	M0
	T3	N1	M0
	T4	N0	M0
	T4	N1	M0
IIIB	T1a	N3	M0
	T1b	N3	M0
	T1c	N3	M0
	T2a	N3	M0
	T2b	N3	M0
	T3	N2	M0
	T4	N2	M0
IIIC	T3	N3	M0
IIIC	T4	N3	M0
IVA	T Any	N Any	M1a
	T Any	N Any	M1b
IVB	T Any	N Any	M1c