TNM Staging for Cancer of the Maxillary Sinus

TNM

Finding

Designation

T

primary tumor cannot be assessed

TX

no evidence of primary tumor

T0

carcinoma in situ

Tis

tumor is limited to the antral mucosa with no erosion or destruction of bone

T1

tumor causing bone erosion or destruction, except for the posterior antral wall, including extension into the hard palate and/or middle nasal meatus

T2

tumor invades any of the following: bone of the posterior wall of the maxillary sinus, subcutaneous tissues, floor or medial wall of the orbit, pterygoid fossa, ethmoid sinuses

T3

tumor invades any of the following: anterior orbital contents, skin of cheek, pterygoid plate, infratemporal fossa, cribiform plate, sphenoid sinus, frontal sinus

T4a

tumor invades any of the following: orbital apex, dura, brain, middle cranial fossa, cranial nerves other than CN V2, nasopharynx, clivus

T4b

N

regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed

NX

no regional lymph node metastasis

N0

metastasis to a single ipsilateral lymph node, <= 3 cm in maximum dimension

N1

metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, > 3 cm and <= 6 cm in maximum dimension

N2a

metastasis in multiple ipsilateral lymph nodes, all <= 6 cm in maximum dimension

N2b

metastasis in bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, all <= 6 cm in maximum dimension

N2c

metastasis to a lymph node > 6 cm in diameter

N3

M

presence of distant metastases cannot be assessed

MX

no distant metastasis

M0

distant metastasis present

M1

TNM Groups

Stage

Tis, N0, M0

0

T1, N0, M0

I

T2, N0, M0

II

T3, N0, M0

T1, N1, M0

T2, N1, M0

T3, N1, M0

III

T4a, N0, M0

T4a, N1, M0

T4a, N2, M0

T1, N2, M0

T2, N2, M0

T3, N2, M0

IVA

T4b, any N, M0

any T, N3, M0

IVB

any T, any N, M1

IVC