The IASLC/ITMIG Thymic Epithelial Tumors Staging Project: proposals for the N and M components for the forthcoming (8th) edition of the TNM classification of malignant tumors.

Abstract

Stage classification is an important underpinning of management of patients with cancer, and rests on a combination of three components: T for tumor extent, N for nodal involvement, and M for more distant metastases. This article details an initiative to develop proposals for the first official stage classification system for thymic malignancies for the 8th edition of the stage classification manuals. Specifically, the results of analysis of a large database and the considerations leading to the proposed N and M components are described. Nodal involvement is divided into an anterior (N1) and a deep (N2) category. Metastases can involve pleural or pericardial nodules (M1a) or intraparenchymal pulmonary nodules or metastases to distant sites (M1b).

• Authors: Kazuya Kondo, Paul Van Schil, Frank C Detterbeck, Meinoshin Okumura, Kelly Stratton, Dorothy Giroux, Hisao Asamura, John Crowley, Conrad Falkson, Pier Luigi Filosso, Giuseppe Giaccone, James Huang, Jhingook Kim, Marco Lucchi, Mirella Marino, Edith M Marom, Andrew G Nicholson, Enrico Ruffini, Staging and Prognostic Factors Committee, Members of the Advisory Boards, Participating Institutions of the Thymic Domain
• Journal: Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (J Thorac Oncol) Vol. 9 Issue 9 Suppl 2 Pg. S81-7 (Sep 2014) ISSN: 1556-1380 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25396316 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Humans
• Lymphatic Metastasis
• Neoplasm Metastasis
• Neoplasm Staging
• Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial (classification, pathology)
• Prognosis
• Survival Analysis
• Thymus Neoplasms (classification, pathology)