Staging of breast cancer

According to the TMN system cancers are the size of the tumor (T) after the appearance of “daughter of tumors (metastases) in lymph nodes (N; Latin” nodus = knot and divided the occurrence of metastases in other organs (M) . It derived from each of consequences for individual therapy.

T = size of the tumor
For breast cancer the following classifications are distinguished:

T stage Tx: no assessment of possible tumor T0: No evidence of a tumor Tis: non-invasive (not in the surrounding tissue ingrown) tumor T1: tumor in greatest dimension no greater than 2 cm T2: Tumor size 2-5 cm in greatest diameter T3: Tumor larger than 5 cm in greatest dimension T4: tumor extends into neighboring tissues (eg, chest muscles, skin or fins)

N = involvement of lymph nodes:
N stage

Nx: lymph nodes can not be assessed N0: Lymph nodes are not affected N1: metastasis in the axillary lymph nodes on the same side as the affected breast, the lymph nodes can move during the examination by the doctor N2: metastasis in the axillary lymph nodes on the same side as the affected breast, the lymph nodes can be moved during the examination by the doctor, since they are fused together or with the surrounding tissue N3: metastasis along the internal thoracic artery on the same side as the affected breast

M = metastases:
M stage:

Mx: presence of organ metastases not assessable M0: no organ metastases detected M1: metastases in other organs, there

Grading:
Furthermore, the biological behavior of tumor tissue in the histological examination will be further explored ( “Grading”). This can for example inferences about the rate of growth of the tumor, or a tendency to metastasize. It distinguishes the grading stages G1, G2 and G3.