TNM Classification—Lip and Oral Carcinomas

PRIMARY TUMOR (T)

TX Primary tumor cannot be assessed.
Tis Carcinoma in situ
T1 Tumor ≤ 2 cm, ≤5 mm depth of invasion (DOI)
T2 Tumor ≤ 2 cm, DOI >5 mm and ≤10 mm DOI or tumors > 2 cm but ≤4 cm, and ≤10 mm DOI
T3 Tumor > 4 cm or any tumor > 10 mm DOI
T4a Moderately advanced local disease:
LIP: Tumor invades through cortical bone or involves the inferior alveolar nerve, floor of mouth, or skin of
face (i.e., chin or nose)
ORAL CAVITY: Tumor invades adjacent structures only (e.g., through cortical bone of the mandible or
maxilla, or involves the maxillary sinus or skin of the face)
NOTE: Superficial erosion of bone/tooth socket (alone) by a gingival primary is not sufficient to classify a
tumor as T4
T4b Very advanced local disease
Tumor invades masticator space, pterygoid plates, or skull base and/or encases internal
carotid.

REGIONAL LYMPH NODES (N)

CLINICAL N (CN)
NX Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0 No regional lymph node metastasis
N1 Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, 3 cm or smaller in greatest dimension, extranodal
extension (ENE) negative
N2 Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, > 3 cm but not >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE
negative; or metastases in multiple ipsilateral lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE
negative; or metastases in bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension, and
ENE negative
N2a Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, >3 cm but not >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE
negative
N2b Metastasis in multiple ipsilateral lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE negative
N2c Metastasis in bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE
negative
N3 Metastasis in a lymph node, >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE negative; or metastasis in any
node(s) and clinically ENE positive
N3a Metastasis in a lymph node, >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE negative
N3b Metastasis in any node(s) and clinically ENE positive

PATHOLOGIC N (PN)
NX Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0 No regional lymph node metastasis
N1 Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, 3 cm or smaller in greatest dimension,
(ENE) negative
N2 Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, 3 cm or smaller in greatest dimension, and ENE positive;
or >3 cm but not >6 cm in greatest dimension and ENE negative; or metastases in multiple ipsilateral lymph
nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE negative; or metastases in bilateral or contralateral
lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension, ENE negative
N2a Metastasis in a single ipsilateral or contralateral lymph node, 3 cm or smaller in greatest dimension,
and ENE positive; or metastases in a single ipsilateral node, >3 cm but not >6 cm in greatest dimension,
ENE negative
N2b Metastasis in multiple ipsilateral lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE negative
N2c Metastasis in bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE
negative
N3 Metastasis in a lymph node, >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE negative; or metastases in a single
ipsilateral node, >3 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE positive; or metastases in multiple ipsilateral,
contralateral, or bilateral nodes any with ENE positive
N3a Metastasis in a lymph node, >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE negative; metastasis in a single
ipsilateral node, >3 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE positive; or metastases in multiple ipsilateral,
contralateral, or bilateral nodes any with ENE positive
DISTANT METASTASIS (M)
M0 No distant metastasis
M1 Distant metastasis
TNM Classification of Oropharyngeal p-16 Negative Carcinoma
PRIMARY TUMOR
TX Primary tumor cannot be assessed
Tis Carcinoma in situ
T1 Tumor 2 cm or smaller in greatest dimension
T2 Tumor >2 cm but not >4 cm in greatest dimension
T3 Tumor >4 cm in greatest dimension or extension to lingual surface of epiglottis
T4 Moderately advanced or very advanced local disease
T4a Moderately advanced local disease
Tumor invades the larynx, extrinsic muscle of tongue, medial pterygoid, hard palate, or mandible a
T4b Very advanced local disease
Tumor invades lateral pterygoid muscle, pterygoid plates, lateral nasopharynx, or skull base or encases
carotid artery
a Mucosal extension to lingual surface of epiglottis from primary tumors of the base of tongue and vallecula
does not constitute invasion of the larynx

REGIONAL LYMPH NODES = N

CLINICAL N (CN)
NX Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0 No regional lymph node metastasis
N1 Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, 3 cm or smaller in greatest dimension, and extranodal
extension (ENE) negative
N2 Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, >3 cm but not >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE
negative; or metastases in multiple ipsilateral lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE
negative; or metastases in bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension, and
ENE negative
N2a Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, >3 cm but not >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE
negative
N2b Metastasis in multiple ipsilateral lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE negative
N2c Metastasis in bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension and ENE
negative
N3 Metastasis in a lymph node, >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE negative; or metastasis in any
node(s) and clinically overt ENE positive
N3a Metastasis in a lymph node, >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE negative
N3b Metastasis in any node(s) and clinically overt ENE positive

PATHOLOGIC N (PN)
NX Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0 No regional lymph node metastasis
N1 Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, 3 cm or smaller in greatest dimension, and ENE negative
N2 Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, 3 cm or smaller in greatest dimension, and ENE positive;
or >3 cm but not >6 cm in greatest dimension and ENE negative; or metastases in multiple ipsilateral lymph
nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE negative; or metastases in bilateral or contralateral
lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE negative
N2a Metastasis in a single ipsilateral or contralateral lymph node, >3 cm or smaller in greatest dimension,
and ENE positive; or metastases in a single ipsilateral node, >3 cm but not >6 cm greatest dimension, and
ENE negative
N2b Metastasis in multiple ipsilateral lymph nodes, none > 6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE negative
N2c Metastasis in bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE
negative
N3 Metastasis in a lymph node, >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE negative; or metastases in a single
ipsilateral node, >3 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE positive; or multiple ipsilateral, contralateral, or
bilateral nodes, any ENE positive
N3a Metastasis in a lymph node, >6 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE negative
N3b Metastasis in single ipsilateral node, >3 cm in greatest dimension, and ENE positive; or metastases in
multiple ipsilateral, contralateral, or bilateral nodes, any with ENE positive
DISTANT METASTASIS = M
M0 No distant metastasis
M1 Distant metastasis present

TNM Classification of Oropharyngeal p16-Positive Carcinomas

PRIMARY TUMOR
T0 No evidence of primary tumor
T1 Tumor 2 cm or smaller in greatest dimension
T2 Tumor > 2 cm but not >4 cm in greatest dimension
T3 Tumor > 4 cm in greatest dimension or extension to lingual surface of epiglottis
T4 Moderately advanced local disease
Tumor invades the larynx, deep extrinsic muscle of tongue, medial pterygoid, hard palate,
or mandible or beyonda
REGIONAL LYMPH NODES = N
CLINICAL N (CN)
NX Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0 No regional lymph node metastasis
N1 One or more ipsilateral lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension
N2 Contralateral or bilateral lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension
N3 Lymph node >6 cm in greatest dimension
PATHOLOGIC N (PN)
NX Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0 No regional lymph node metastasis
N1 Metastasis in 4 or fewer lymph nodes
N2 Metastasis in >4 lymph nodes
DISTANT METASTASIS = M
M0 No distant metastasis
M1 Distant metastasis present
STAGING OROPHARYNGEAL CANCERS
CLINICAL STAGE
Stage I T0, T1 or T2 and N0 or N1 and M0
Stage II T0, T1 or T2 and N2 and M0
Stage II T3 and N0, N1 or N2 and M0
Stage III T0, T1, T2, T3 or T4 and N3 and M0
Stage III T4 and N0, N1, N2 or N3 and M0
Stage IV Any T Any N M1
PATHOLOGIC STAGE
Stage I T0, T1 or T2 and N0 or N1 and M0
Stage II T0, T1 or T2 and N2 and M0
Stage II T3 or T4 and N0 or N1 and M0
Stage III T3 or T4 and N and M0
Stage IV Any T Any N M1