Stage Information for Vaginal Cancer
Definitions: FIGO
FIGO staging system (and modified World Health Organization [WHO] prognostic scoring system)
If the cervix is intact, biopsies are mandatory to rule out a primary carcinoma of the cervix. Carcinoma of the vulva should also be ruled out.
Definitions: FIGOThe Féderation Internationale de Gynécologie et d’Obstétrique (FIGO) and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) have designated staging to define vaginal cancer; the FIGO system is most commonly used.[1,2] The definitions of the AJCC's T, N, and M categories correspond to the stages accepted by FIGO.
FIGO staging system (and modified World Health Organization [WHO] prognostic scoring system)The FIGO staging system is as follows:[1]
Table 1. Carcinoma of the Vaginaa| FIGO Nomenclature | |
| Stage I | The carcinoma is limited to the vaginal wall. |
| Stage II | The carcinoma has involved the subvaginal tissue but has not extended to the pelvic wall. |
| Stage III | The carcinoma has extended to the pelvic wall. |
| Stage IV | The carcinoma has extended beyond the true pelvis or has involved the mucosa of the bladder or rectum; bullous edemas as such does not permit a case to be allotted to stage IV. |
| IVa - Tumor invades bladder and/or rectal mucosa and/or direct extension beyond the true pelvis. | |
| IVb - Spread to distant organs. | |
| FIGO = Féderation Internationale de Gynécologie et d’Obstétrique. | |
| aAdapted from FIGO Committee on Gynecologic Oncology.[1] |
In addition, the FIGO staging system incorporates a modified WHO prognostic scoring system. The scores from the eight risk factors are summed and incorporated into the FIGO stage, separated by a colon (e.g., Stage II:4, Stage IV:9, etc.). Unfortunately, a variety of risk scoring systems have been published, making comparisons of results difficult.
References- FIGO Committee on Gynecologic Oncology.: Current FIGO staging for cancer of the vagina, fallopian tube, ovary, and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 105 (1): 3-4, 2009. [PUBMED Abstract]
- Vagina. In: Edge SB, Byrd DR, Compton CC, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 7th ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2010, pp 387-9.
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