M4 - AJCC Staging - Quiz
Which one of the following is a VALID choice for the M category?
cM0 There is no cMX or pMX. MX is not a valid choice in AJCC. If there are no signs or symptoms of distant involvement, a clinical M0 should be assigned. There is no pM0. It is not possible to have a pathologic M0. In order to prove pathologically that there are no metastases, every single tissue in the body would have to be biopsied. This would be impossible to prove even on autopsy. Therefore, pM0 is not a valid choice in AJCC. If distant involvement is suspected clinically, and that tissue is biopsied and shown to be negative, it still would not qualify as a pM0. It would be clinical (cM0).
The criteria for the pathological stage classification:
Are specified in the site specific chapter
Information from a positive biopsy that proves only the highest T category should be included in the __________ T category.
Clinical Information from a diagnostic biopsy is included in the clinical stage. If the biopsy is positive AND it proves the highest T category it cannot be used in the pathological stage unless there is also a biopsy that proves the highest N category. Both highest T and highest N categories must be microscopically proven in order to use this rule
Which of the following best describes the clinician use of stage?
Clinicians use stage to make treatment decisions, estimate the patient's prognosis, and evaluate the results of treatment
True or false? All cases must be confirmed microscopically for AJCC Staging.
False All cases should be confirmed microscopically, but those that are not microscopically confirmed may still be staged with AJCC. These cases that do not have microscopic confirmation should be analyzed separately.
The time frame for the AJCC pathological stage classification is which of the following?
From diagnosis through first course of surgery or within 4 months, whichever is longer
A case has a stage of: pT2 pN0 cM0. Which one of the following statements is TRUE about assigning the stage group for this case? (Assume this is the only stage information applicable.)
This case can be assigned a pathological stage group For both the clinical and pathological stage classification, the M category can be either clinical or pathological depending on the method of assessment.
In the breast chapter, Paget Disease without any underlying tumor is assigned as:
Tis (Paget) Paget disease without any underlying tumor is assigned Tis (Paget). If associated with underlying DCIS, it is assigned as Tis (DCIS). If associated with an underlying invasive cancer, it is assigned the T category according to the invasive cancer size.
The __________ identifies the point in the patient's diagnosis and treatment at which the information was obtained.
stage classification One of the distinguishing characteristics of the TNM staging system is its ability to differentiate the types of information on which the staging of the case was based. That characteristic is called the stage classification. It identifies the point in time of the patient's diagnosis and treatment at which the information was obtained. Each stage classification has a specific time frame and criteria that apply.
