Primary tumor (T), squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma |
T category | T criteria |
TX | Tumor cannot be assessed |
T0 | No evidence of primary tumor |
Tis | High-grade dysplasia, defined as malignant cells confined to the epithelium by the basement membrane |
T1 | Tumor invades the lamina propria, muscularis mucosae, or submucosa |
T1a | Tumor invades the lamina propria or muscularis mucosae |
T1b | Tumor invades the submucosa |
T2 | Tumor invades the muscularis propria |
T3 | Tumor invades adventitia |
T4 | Tumor invades adjacent structures |
T4a | Tumor invades the pleura, pericardium, azygos vein, diaphragm, or peritoneum |
T4b | Tumor invades other adjacent structures, such as the aorta, vertebral body, or airway |
Regional lymph nodes (N), squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma |
N category | N criteria |
NX | Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed |
N0 | No regional lymph node metastasis |
N1 | Metastases in 1 or 2 regional lymph nodes |
N2 | Metastases in 3 to 6 regional lymph nodes |
N3 | Metastases in 7 or more regional lymph nodes |
Distant metastasis (M), squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma |
M category | M criteria |
M0 | No distant metastasis |
M1 | Distant metastasis |
Histologic grade (G), squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma |
G | G definition |
GX | Grade cannot be assessed |
G1 | Well differentiated |
G2 | Moderately differentiated |
G3 | Poorly differentiated, undifferentiated |
Location, squamous cell carcinoma |
Location plays a role in the stage grouping of esophageal squamous cancers. |
Location category | Location criteria |
X | Location unknown |
Upper | Cervical esophagus to lower border of azygos vein |
Middle | Lower border of azygos vein to lower border of inferior pulmonary vein |
Lower | Lower border of inferior pulmonary vein to stomach, including gastroesophageal junction |
NOTE: Location is defined by the position of the epicenter of the tumor in the esophagus. |
Prognostic stage groups, squamous cell carcinoma |
Clinical (cTNM) |
When cT is... | And cN is... | And M is... | Then the stage group is... |
Tis | N0 | M0 | 0 |
T1 | N0-1 | M0 | I |
T2 | N0-1 | M0 | II |
T3 | N0 | M0 | II |
T3 | N1 | M0 | III |
T1-3 | N2 | M0 | III |
T4 | N0-2 | M0 | IVA |
Any T | N3 | M0 | IVA |
Any T | Any N | M1 | IVB |
Pathological (pTNM) |
When pT is... | And pN is... | And M is... | And G is... | And location is... | Then the stage group is... |
Tis | N0 | M0 | N/A | Any | 0 |
T1a | N0 | M0 | G1 | Any | IA |
T1a | N0 | M0 | G2-3 | Any | IB |
T1a | N0 | M0 | GX | Any | IA |
T1b | N0 | M0 | G1-3 | Any | IB |
T1b | N0 | M0 | GX | Any | IB |
T2 | N0 | M0 | G1 | Any | IB |
T2 | N0 | M0 | G2-3 | Any | IIA |
T2 | N0 | M0 | GX | Any | IIA |
T3 | N0 | M0 | Any | Lower | IIA |
T3 | N0 | M0 | G1 | Upper/middle | IIA |
T3 | N0 | M0 | G2-3 | Upper/middle | IIB |
T3 | N0 | M0 | GX | Any | IIB |
T3 | N0 | M0 | Any | Location X | IIB |
T1 | N1 | M0 | Any | Any | IIB |
T1 | N2 | M0 | Any | Any | IIIA |
T2 | N1 | M0 | Any | Any | IIIA |
T2 | N2 | M0 | Any | Any | IIIB |
T3 | N1-2 | M0 | Any | Any | IIIB |
T4a | N0-1 | M0 | Any | Any | IIIB |
T4a | N2 | M0 | Any | Any | IVA |
T4b | N0-2 | M0 | Any | Any | IVA |
Any T | N3 | M0 | Any | Any | IVA |
Any T | Any N | M1 | Any | Any | IVB |
Post-neoadjuvant therapy (ypTNM) |
When ypT is... | And ypN is... | And M is... | Then the stage group is... |
T0-2 | N0 | M0 | I |
T3 | N0 | M0 | II |
T0-2 | N1 | M0 | IIIA |
T3 | N1 | M0 | IIIB |
T0-3 | N2 | M0 | IIIB |
T4a | N0 | M0 | IIIB |
T4a | N1-2 | M0 | IVA |
T4a | NX | M0 | IVA |
T4b | N0-2 | M0 | IVA |
Any T | N3 | M0 | IVA |
Any T | Any N | M1 | IVB |
Prognostic stage groups, adenocarcinoma |
Clinical (cTNM) |
When cT is... | And cN is... | And M is... | Then the stage group is... |
Tis | N0 | M0 | 0 |
T1 | N0 | M0 | I |
T1 | N1 | M0 | IIA |
T2 | N0 | M0 | IIB |
T2 | N1 | M0 | III |
T3 | N0-1 | M0 | III |
T4a | N0-1 | M0 | III |
T1-4a | N2 | M0 | IVA |
T4b | N0-2 | M0 | IVA |
Any T | N3 | M0 | IVA |
Any T | Any N | M1 | IVB |
Pathological (pTNM) |
When pT is... | And pN is... | And M is... | And G is... | Then the stage group is... |
Tis | N0 | M0 | N/A | 0 |
T1a | N0 | M0 | G1 | IA |
T1a | N0 | M0 | GX | IA |
T1a | N0 | M0 | G2 | IB |
T1b | N0 | M0 | G1-2 | IB |
T1b | N0 | M0 | GX | IB |
T1 | N0 | M0 | G3 | IC |
T2 | N0 | M0 | G1-2 | IC |
T2 | N0 | M0 | G3 | IIA |
T2 | N0 | M0 | GX | IIA |
T1 | N1 | M0 | Any | IIB |
T3 | N0 | M0 | Any | IIB |
T1 | N2 | M0 | Any | IIIA |
T2 | N1 | M0 | Any | IIIA |
T2 | N2 | M0 | Any | IIIB |
T3 | N1-2 | M0 | Any | IIIB |
T4a | N0-1 | M0 | Any | IIIB |
T4a | N2 | M0 | Any | IVA |
T4b | N0-2 | M0 | Any | IVA |
Any T | N3 | M0 | Any | IVA |
Any T | Any N | M1 | Any | IVB |
Post-neoadjuvant therapy (ypTNM) |
When ypT is... | And ypN is... | And M is... | Then the stage group is... |
T0-2 | N0 | M0 | I |
T3 | N0 | M0 | II |
T0-2 | N1 | M0 | IIIA |
T3 | N1 | M0 | IIIB |
T0-3 | N2 | M0 | IIIB |
T4a | N0 | M0 | IIIB |
T4a | N1-2 | M0 | IVA |
T4a | NX | M0 | IVA |
T4b | N0-2 | M0 | IVA |
Any T | N3 | M0 | IVA |
Any T | Any N | M1 | IVB |