Imaging characteristics of pleural tumours

Insights into Imaging

Table 2 TNM classification of MM, according to the 7th AJCC Cancer Staging Manual

T (sum of the extent of spread of the primary tumour)
TX^a	The main tumour cannot be assessed for some reason
T0^a	No evidence of a main tumour
T1^a	MMT involvement of the pleura on one side of the chest (even the diaphragmatic or mediastinal pleura)
T2^a	T1 + involvement of chest wall, diaphragmatic and mediastinal pleura and at least one of diaphragm or lung infiltration
T3^a	T2 + infiltration of at least one of the following: endothoracic fascia, fatty mediastinal tissue, a SINGLE place in the deeper layers of the chest wall, surface of the pericardium
T4^b	T3 + infiltration of at least one of the following: more than one place in the deeper layers of the chest wall, the peritoneum, any organs in the mediastinum, the spine, the other side of the chest, the heart muscle
N (regional lymph nodes involvement)
NX	The nearby lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0	No spread to the nearby lymph nodes
N1	Spread to the hilar or bronchial lymph nodes on the same side as the primary tumour
N2	Spread to other lymph nodes on the same side as the primary tumour (subcarinal, mediastinal, internal mammary and peridiaphragmatic)
N3	Spread to the supraclavicular lymph nodes and/or to those on the opposite side to the primary tumour
M (primary tumour spread to the other organs of the body)
M0	No spread to distant organs or areas
M1	Spread to distant sites (lymph nodes and organs)