Table 1 Esophageal cancer/ Esophageal and gastroesophageal junction tumors. Application: squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation. (excluding sarcomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumors)
From: The treatments and postoperative complications of esophageal cancer: a review
T--primary tumor | N--regional lymph nodes (for adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma) | ||
TX | Primary tumors cannot be evaluated | NX | Regional lymph nodes cannot be evaluated |
T0 | No evidence of primary tumor | N0 | No regional lymph node metastasis |
Tis | Highly atypical hyperplasia, confined to the epithelium | N1 | One to two regional lymph node metastases |
T1 | The tumor invaded the lamina propria, mucous membrane or submucosa | N2 | Three to six regional lymph node metastases |
T1a | The tumor invades the lamina propria or the muscularis mucosa | N3 | Equal to or more than 7 regional lymph node metastases |
T1b | The tumor invaded the submucosa | M--distal metastasis (for adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma) | |
T2 | The tumor invaded the muscularis propria | M0 | No remote transfer |
T3 | The tumor invaded the outer membrane | M1 | There’s a distal shift |
T4 | The tumor invaded adjacent structures | Â | Â |
T4a | Tumor invades pleura, pericardium, azygos vein, transverse septum or pleura | Â | Â |
T4B | Tumors invade adjacent structures such as the aorta, vertebra, and trachea | Â | Â |
G--degree of differentiation (adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma) | L--tumor location (tumor location refers to the center of the tumor, applicable to squamous cell carcinoma) | ||
GX | The degree of differentiation cannot be assessed | X | unable to locate |
G1 | High differentiation | In the upper | Cervical esophagus to the lower margin of azygos vein |
G2 | moderately differentiated | In the middle | Inferior margin of azygos vein to inferior margin of pulmonary vein |
G3 | Low differentiation, undifferentiation | hypomere | Inferior pulmonary vein lower margin, to the gastroesophageal junction |