Lung and Pleural Tumours

1. Introductory Notes

The classifications apply to carcinomas of the lung and malignant mesothelioma of pleura.

Each site is described under the following headings:

• Rules for classification with the procedures for assessing T, N, and M categories; additional methods may be used when they enhance the accuracy of appraisal before treatment
  
• Anatomical subsites where appropriate
  
• Definition of the regional lymph nodes
  
• TNM Clinical classification
  
• pTNM Pathological classification
  
• G Histopathological grading where applicable
  
• Stage grouping
  
• Summary
  

2. Regional Lymph Nodes

Direct extension of the primary tumour into lymph nodes is classified as lymph node metastasis.

3. Distant Metastasis

The categories M1 and pM1 may be further specified according to the following notation:

Pulmonary PUL Bone marrow MAR Osseous OSS Pleura PLE Hepatic HEP Peritoneum PER Brain BRA Adrenals ADR Lymph nodes LYM Skin SKI Others OTH

4. R Classification

The absence or presence of residual tumour after treatment is described by the symbol R. The definitions of the R classification are:

RX. Presence of residual tumour cannot be assessed
R0. No residual tumour
R1. Microscopic residual tumour
R2. Macroscopic residual tumour

TNM 7 text