pancreatic cancer stages

pancreatic cancer stages

What Are The Stages Of Pancreatic Cancer?

After a diagnosis is made, doctors find out how far the cancer has spread to determine the stage of the cancer. The stage determines which choices will be available for treatment and informs prognoses. The standard pancreatic cancer staging method is called the TNM (Tumor - Node - Metastasis) system. T indicates the size and direct extent of the primary tumor, N indicates the degree to which the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and M indicates whether the cancer has metastasized to other organs in the body. A small tumor that has not spread to lymph nodes or distant organs may be staged as (T1, N0, M0), for example.

Group staging, from 0 to IV, for pancreatic cancer follows from TNM categories. Stage 0 is written as (Tis, N0, M0) where Tis stands for carcinoma in situ. This is when the tumor is confined to the top layers of pancreatic duct cells and has not invaded deeper tissues nor spread outside of the pancreas. Stage IV is written as (Any T, Any N, M1) and describes cancer that has spread to distant sites throughout the body.

Physicians also use a simpler staging system that classifies tumors based on the likelihood that they can be surgically removed. Resectable cancers are isolated to the pancreas and can be entirely removed. Locally advanced (unresectable) tumors have not spread to distant organs but cannot be completely removed surgically. Metastatic tumors have spread to distant organs, and surgery would only be used to relieve pain or unblock ducts.