Table V.

TNM staging system for mucosal melanomas

I–Primary tumour
TX	Primary tumour cannot be assessed
T3	Epithelium and/or submucosa (mucosal disease)
T4a	Deep soft tissue, cartilage, bone, overlying skin
T4b	Brain, dura, skull base, lower cranial nerves (IX, X, XI, XII), masticator space, carotid artery, prevertebral space, mediastinal structures
N–Regional lymph nodes
NX	Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0	No regional lymph node metastasis
N1	Regional lymph node metastasis
M–Distant metastasis
M0	No distant metastasis
M1	Distant metastasis
Stage grouping:
Stage III	T3	N0	M0
Stage IVA	T3	N1	M0
	T4a	N1	M0
Stage IVB	T4b	Any N	M0
Stage IVC	Any T	Any N	M1

Note: Mucosal melanomas are aggressive tumours, therefore T1 and T2 are omitted as are stages I and II