| Primary tumor (T) | |
| T category | T criteria |
| T3 | Tumors limited to the mucosa and immediately underlying soft tissue, regardless of thickness or greatest dimension; for example, polypoid nasal disease, pigmented or nonpigmented lesions of the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx |
| T4 | Moderately advanced or very advanced |
| T4a | Moderately advanced disease. Tumor involving deep soft tissue, cartilage, bone, or overlying skin. |
| T4b | Very advanced disease. Tumor involving brain, dura, skull base, lower cranial nerves (IX, X, XI, XII), masticator space, carotid artery, prevertebral space, or mediastinal structures. |
| Regional lymph nodes (N) | |
| N category | N criteria |
| NX | Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed |
| N0 | No regional lymph node metastases |
| N1 | Regional lymph node metastases present |
| Distant metastasis (M) | |
| M category | M criteria |
| M0 | No distant metastasis |
| M1 | Distant metastasis present |
