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TNM classification of carcinomas of the lip and oral cavity


T — Primary tumour 1,2
TX Primary tumour cannot be assessed
T0 No evidence of primary tumour
Tis Carcinoma in situ
T1 Tumour 2 cm or less in greatest dimension
T2 Tumour more than 2 cm but not more than 4 cm in greatest dimension
T3 Tumour more than 4 cm in greatest dimension
T4a (lip) Tumour invades through cortical bone, inferior alveolar nerve, floor of mouth, or skin (chin or nose)
T4a (oral cavity) Tumour invades through cortical bone, into deep/extrinsic muscle of tongue (genioglossus, hyoglossus, palatoglossus, and styloglossus), maxillary sinus, or skin of face
T4b (lip and oral cavity) Tumour invades masticator space, pterygoid plates, or skull base; or encases internal carotid artery

Note: Superficial erosion alone of bone/tooth socket by gingival primary is not sufficient to classify a tumour as T4.



N - Regional Lymph Nodes##
NX Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0 No regional lymph node metastasis
N1 Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, 3 cm or less in greatest dimension
N2 Metastasis as specified in N2a, 2b, 2c below
N2a Metastasis in a single ipsilateral lymph node, more than 3 cm but not more than 6 cm in greatest dimension
N2b Metastasis in multiple ipsilateral lymph nodes, none more than 6 cm in greatest dimension
N2c Metastasis in bilateral or contralateral lymph nodes, none more than 6 cm in greatest dimension
N3 Metastasis in a lymph node more than 6 cm in greatest dimension

Note: Midline nodes are considered ipsilateral nodes.


M - Distant metastasis
M0 No distant metastasis
M1 Distant metastasis





Stage grouping
Stage 0 Tis N0 M0
Stage I T1 N0 M0
Stage II T2 N0 M0
Stage III T1, T2 N1 M0
T3 N0, N1 M0
Stage IVA T1, T2, T3 N2 M0
T4a N0, N1, N2 M0
Stage IVB Any T N3 M0
T4b Any N M0
Stage IVC Any T Any N M1


## The regional lymph nodes are the cervical nodes.

1 Adpated from Edge et al.

2 A help desk for specific questions about the TNM classification is available at https://www.uicc.org/resources/tnm/helpdesk.
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