TNM Staging for Cancer of the Nasal Cavity and Ethmoid Sinus

TNM

Finding

Designation

T

primary tumor cannot be assessed

TX

no evidence of primary tumor

T0

carcinoma in situ

Tis

tumor restricted to 1 subsite of nasal cavity or ethmoid sinus, with or without bony invasion

T1

tumor involves 2 subsites in a single site, or extends to involve an adjacent site within the nasoethmoidal complex, with or without bony invasion

T2

tumor invades the medial wall or floor of the orbit, the maxillary sinus, the palate or cribiform plate

T3

tumor invades any of the following: anterior orbital contents, skin of nose, skin of cheek, minimal extension to the anterior cranial fossa, pterygoid 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

T1, N1, M0

T2, N1, M0

T3, N0, M0

T3, N1, M0

III

T1, N2, M0

T2, N2, M0

T3, N2, M0

T4a, N0, M0

T4a, N1, M0

T4a, N2, M0

IVA

T4b, any N, M0

any T, N3, M0

IVB

any T, any N, M1

IVC