Table 1.
TNM- and UICC-classification of esophageal cancer 2010
| TX | Primary tumor cannot be assessed | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| T0 | No evidence of primary tumor | ||
| Tis | High-grade dysplasia | ||
| T1a | Tumor invades lamina propria or muscularis mucosae | ||
| T1b | Tumor invades submucosa | ||
| T2 | Tumor invades muscularis propria | ||
| T3 | Tumor invades adventitia | ||
| T4a | Tumor invades pleura, pericardium, or diaphragm | ||
| T4b | Tumor invades neighboring structures, such as aorta, vertebral body, or trachea | ||
| NX | Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed | ||
| N0 | No regional lymph node metastasis | ||
| N1 | 1–2 regional lymph node metastases | ||
| N2 | 3–6 regional lymph node metastases | ||
| N3 | ≥7 regional lymph node metastases | ||
| MX | Distant metastasis cannot be assessed | ||
| M0 | No distant metastasis | ||
| M1 | Distant metastasis | ||
| Stage 0 | Tis | N0 | M0 |
| Stage IA | T1 | N0 | M0 |
| Stage IB | T2 | N0 | M0 |
| Stage IIA | T3 | N0 | M0 |
| Stage IIB | T1, T2 | N1 | M0 |
| Stage IIIA | T4a | N0 | M0 |
| T3 | N1 | M0 | |
| T1, T2 | N2 | M0 | |
| Stage IIIB | T3 | N2 | M0 |
| Stage IIIC | T4a | N1, N2 | M0 |
| T4b | any N | M0 | |
| any T | N3 | M0 | |
| Stage IV | any T | any N | M1 |
Abbreviations: TNM, TNM Classification of Malignant Tumors; UICC, Union for International Cancer Control.