TNM Staging System
The TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours (TNM) is a cancer staging system that describes the extent of cancer in a patient’s body.
- T describes the size of the tumor and whether it has invaded nearby tissue,
- N describes regional lymph nodes that are involved,
- M describes distant metastasis (spread of cancer from one body part to another).
The TNM staging system for all solid tumors was devised by Pierre Denoix between 1943 and 1952, using the size and extension of the primary tumor, its lymphatic involvement, and the presence of metastases to classify the progression of cancer.
TNM is developed and maintained by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) to achieve consensus on one globally recognised standard for classifying the extent of spread of cancer. The TNM classification is also used by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). In 1987, the UICC and AJCC staging systems were unified into a single staging system.
Read more about TNM Staging System: General Outline, Examples, Uses and Aims, Versions
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