Table 3: TNM Descriptors and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Staging

Table 3:
TNM Descriptors and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Staging
Primary Tumor (T)	Description
T1	A small tumor that is not locally advanced or invasive Criteria: <3 cm in size; surrounded by lung or visceral pleura; not extending into the main bronchus
T2	A larger tumor that is minimally advanced or invasive Criteria: >3 cm in size; may invade the visceral pleura; may extend into the main bronchus but remains >2 cm from the main carina; may cause segmental or lobar atelectasis
T3	Any size tumor that is locally advanced or invasive up to but not including the major intrathoracic structures Criteria: any size; may involve the chest wall, diaphragm, mediastinal pleura, parietal pericardium; main bronchus within 2 cm of the main carina (not involving the main carina); may cause atelectasis of the entire lung
T4	Any size tumor that is advanced or invasive into the major intrathoracic structures Criteria: any size; invades the mediastinum, heart, great vessels, trachea, esophagus, vertebral body, main carina; malignant pericardial or pleural effusion; presence of satellite tumor nodule(s) within the primary tumor lobe
Regional Lymph Node Involvement (N)	Description
N1	Metastatic disease to nodes within the ipsilateral lung Criteria: direct extension to intrapulmonary nodes; metastasis to ipsilateral peribronchial and/or hilar nodes (nodal stations 10 through 14)
N2	Metastatic disease to nodes beyond the ipsilateral lung but not contralateral to the primary tumor Criteria: metastasis to the ipsilateral mediastinal and/or subcarinal nodes (nodal stations 1 through 9)
N3	Metastatic disease to nodes distant to those included in N2 Criteria: metastasis to contralateral mediastinal and/or hilar nodes, ipsilateral or contralateral scalene and/or supraclavicular nodes
Metastases (M)	Description
MO	Local or regional disease, no distant metastases
M1	Disseminated disease, distant metastases present
Staging	Description
IA	T1N0M0
IB	T2N0M0
IIA	T1N1M0
IIB	T2N1M0, T3N0M0
IIIA	T3N1M0, T(1-3)N2M0
IIIB	T4N(0-3)M0, T(1-4)N3M0
IV	T(any)N(any)M1
Adapted from reference ⁷

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