Person with cancer—primary tumour status, T stage (UICC TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours, 7th ed) code X[XXX]

Guide for use:

Record the size and extent of the primary tumour at the time of diagnosis of the cancer.

TNM staging applies to solid tumours excluding brain tumours.

Choose the lower (less advanced) T category when there is any uncertainty.

The T stage value is derived from the size of the tumour and its relationship (extension) to other structures. The size is reflected in the value of data element Person with cancer—solid tumour size (at diagnosis), total millimetres NNN; the usage attributes provide additional detail.

The extent of the primary cancer at diagnosis is usually recorded. An exception is malignant melanoma of the skin; by convention T stage is recorded after tumour excision and is based on tumour thickness with T subcategories based on ulceration and the number of mitoses seen. Ovarian cancer is also surgically/pathologically staged.

The current edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Cancer Staging Manual provides an equivalent and alternative source of T stage codes.

Staging classification systems other than the TNM classification system are recorded separately.

Comments:
Cancer stage is an important determinant of treatment and prognosis, and is used to evaluate new treatments and analyse outcomes. Survival analysis is adjusted by stage at diagnosis and distribution of cancer cases by type and stage.