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Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary Treatment (PDQ®)

  • Last Modified: 02/23/2012

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Stage Information for Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary

Definitions of TNM



Definitions of TNM

The American Joint Committee on Cancer has designated staging by TNM classification to define metastatic squamous neck cancer with occult primary.[1]

Table 1. Regional Lymph Nodes (N)a
NXRegional lymph nodes cannot be assessed.
N0No regional lymph node metastasis.
N1bMetastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, ≤3 cm in greatest dimension.
N2bMetastasis in a single isilateral lymph node, >3 cm but not >6 cm in greatest dimension; or in multiple ipsilateral lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension; or in bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension.
N2abMetastasis in single ipsilateral lymph node >3 cm but not >6 cm in greatest dimension.
N2bbMetastases in multiple ipsilateral lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension.
N2cbMetastases in bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, none >6 cm in greatest dimension.
N3bMetastasis in a lymph node >6 cm in greatest dimension.

aReprinted with permission from AJCC: Head and neck. In: Edge SB, Byrd DR, Compton CC, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 7th ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2010, pp 21-8.
bA designation of "U" or "L" may be used for any N stage to indicate metastasis above the lower border of the cricoid (U) or below the lower border of the cricoid (L). Similarly, clinical/radiological ECS should be recorded as E-- or E+, and histopathologic ECS should be designated En, Em, or Eg.

Table 2. Distant Metastasis (M)a
aReprinted with permission from AJCC: Head and neck. In: Edge SB, Byrd DR, Compton CC, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 7th ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2010, pp 21-8.
M0No distant metastasis.
M1Distant metastasis.

Untreated

Untreated metastatic squamous neck cancer with occult primary means that a patient is newly diagnosed and has had no prior treatment except supportive care.

References

  1. Head and neck sites. In: Edge SB, Byrd DR, Compton CC, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 7th ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2010, pp 21-8.