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salivary gland cancer
Monday 29 September 2014
TNM Staging System
T stages of salivary gland cancer
T1 means the tumour is all inside the tissue of the salivary gland and is smaller than 2cm across (about ¾ inch across) T2 – the tumour is larger than 2cm, but smaller than 4cm across (about 1 ½ inches) T3 – the tumour is bigger than 4cm and/or it has spread into the soft tissues around the salivary gland T4a – the tumour has grown outside the salivary gland into nearby body tissues such as the jaw, ear canal, facial nerves or skin T4b – the tumour has grown into the bottom of the skull, or the side of the skull, or covers the main blood vessel called the carotid artery
N stages of salivary gland cancer
N0 – there are no cancer cells in the lymph nodes N1 – there are cancer cells in one lymph node on the same side as the affected salivary gland and the lymph node is smaller than 3cm in size N2 is divided into 3 sub groups
- N2a – there are cancer cells in one node on the same side as the affected salivary gland and the lymph node is between 3 and 6 cm in size (between 1.2 and 2.4 inches)
- N2b – there are cancer cells in several lymph nodes on the same side as the affected salivary gland and the lymph nodes are all smaller than 6cm in size
- N2c – there are cancer cells in the lymph nodes on the other side of the face or in lymph nodes on both sides and the lymph nodes are all smaller than 6cm
N3 – There are cancer cells in at least one lymph node which is bigger than 6cm in size
The M stages (metastasis)
M0 means there is no sign of cancer spread M1 means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body further away, such as the lungs
Number Staging System
Stage 1 means that the tumour is only in the salivary gland and is smaller than 2cm. Stage 2 means that the tumour is only in the salivary gland and is between 2 and 4 cm. Stage 3 means that either
- The tumour is smaller than 4cm, and there is cancer in one lymph node on the same side that is smaller than 3cm across
- The tumour is bigger than 4cm and may have spread to the soft tissues around the salivary gland. It may also have spread to a lymph node on the same side but the node is smaller than 3cm across
Stage 4 means that the cancer is advanced and there are 3 groups within stage 4 salivary gland cancer.
- Stage 4a means that the cancer has grown into the tissues around the salivary gland, the skin, the jawbone, ear canal or facial nerve. And there are cancer cells in the lymph nodes on one or both sides of the neck. These lymph nodes are smaller than 6cm across (2.4 inches).
- Stage 4b means that the cancer has grown into the tissues around the salivary gland, the base of the skull or the main blood vessel in the neck (the carotid artery). There are cancer cells in the lymph nodes on one or both sides of the neck and at least one lymph node is larger than 6cm across.
- Stage 4c means that the cancer has spread to another part of the body, such as the lungs.
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