Table 3 (AJCC) TNM staging system of vulvar melanoma
From: Extracutaneous melanomas: a primer for the radiologist
Primary tumour (T) TX: Primary (main) tumour cannot be assessed T0: No evidence of primary tumour Tis: Melanoma in situ T1: The melanoma is less than or equal to 1.0Â mm thick T2: The melanoma is between 1.01 and 2.0Â mm thick T3: The melanoma is between 2.01 and 4.0Â mm thick T4: The melanoma is thicker than 4.0Â mm T1-T4 stages are subdivided into a (without ulceration) and b (with ulceration) Regional lymph nodes (N) NX: Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed N0: No regional lymph node metastases N1: Spread to 1 nearby lymph node N2: Spread to 2 or 3 nearby lymph nodes, OR spread of melanoma to nearby skin (known as satellite tumours) or toward a nearby lymph node area (known as in-transit tumours) without reaching the lymph nodes N3: Spread to 4 or more lymph nodes, OR spread to lymph nodes that are clumped together, OR spread of melanoma to nearby skin (satellite tumours) or toward a lymph node area and into the lymph node(s) Distant metastasis (M) M0: No distant metastasis M1a: Metastasis to skin, subcutaneous tissue or lymph nodes in distant parts of the body, with a normal blood LDH level M1b: Metastasis to the lungs, normal LDH level M1c: Metastasis to other organs or distant spread to any site along with an elevated blood LDH level |