Staging

TNM staging system

Categ
Description
ory
T0
No evidence of primary tumor
T1
Tumor confines in nasopharynx,
oropharynx, or nasal cavity
T2
Tumor extends to parapharyngeal
T3
space
Tumor invades bony structures of
T4
base of skull or paranasal sinus
Tumor with intracranial extension
or involvement of cranial nerves,
2
masticator space, orbit,

TNM staging system

Category

N0
N1

Description

No regional lymph node metastasis

Unilateral cervical lymph node(s)
metastasis, 6 cm or less in greatest
dimension, and/or unilateral or
bilateral retropharyngeal lymph nodes*, 6
N2
cm or less in greatest dimension
Bilateral cervical lymph node(s)
N3a
metastasis, 6 cm or less in greatest
dimension
N3b
Metastasis of cervical lymph node(s),
more than 6 cm in greatest dimension
Metastasis of cervical lymph node(s) with
*midline
nodes are considered
ipsilateral nodes3 fossa
extension
to supraclavicular

TNM staging system

Categ
Description
ory
M0
No distant metastasis
M1
Distant metastasis

TNM staging system

Stage
groupi
ng
T1
T2
T3
T4
M1

N0

N1

N2

N3

I
II
III
IV A

II
II
III
IV A

III
III
III
IV A

IV
IV
IV
IV

B
B
B
B

IV C

Reference: 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on

Cancers TNM staging system
6