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Lung Cancer

All Types of Cancer

Lung Cancer Staging

After determining a diagnosis of small cell or non-small cell lung cancer there may be additional testing to determine if the cancer cells have spread within the chest or to other parts of the body. Information gathered determines the stage of the disease and the treatment plan. After your oncology team has completed the diagnostic tests, they will meet with you to discuss treatment options.

Small Cell Lung Cancer Staging

Small cell lung cancer staging falls under one of two categories: limited and extensive.

In limited-stage small cell lung cancer, cancer is found in one lung, the tissues between the lungs, and nearby lymph nodes only. Alternatively, extensive-stage small cell lung cancer has spread outside of the lung in which it began or to other parts of the body.

There is another, more formal system to describe the stage of lung cancer, but SCLC is almost always staged as a limited or extensive stage as described above.

Stages of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The stages of NSCLC can be complex. Your oncologist will meet with you to review the results of the tests and discuss your next steps for lung cancer treatment based on the stage.

The TNM System for lung cancer staging

  • T - Tumor: How large is the tumor? Has it grown into nearby structures or organs?
  • N - Nodes: Has there been spread to nearby lymph nodes?
  • M - Metastasis: Has the cancer spread to organs outside of the primary cancer site such as the bones, adrenal glands, liver, or the other lung?

The American Cancer Society created a table that helps convert your TNM status into a stage.

AJCC Stage

Stage grouping

Stage description*

Occult (hidden) cancer

TX

N0

M0

The main tumor can’t be assessed for some reason, or cancer cells are seen in a sample of sputum or other lung fluids, but the cancer isn’t found with other tests, so its location can’t be determined (TX). The cancer is not thought to have spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or to distant parts of the body (M0).

0

Tis

N0

M0

The tumor is found only in the top layers of cells lining the air passages, but it has not invaded deeper into other lung tissues (Tis). The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or to distant parts of the body (M0).

IA1

T1mi

N0

M0

The cancer is a minimally invasive adenocarcinoma. The tumor is no larger than 3 centimeters (cm) across, and the part that has invaded into deeper lung tissues is no more than ½ cm across. The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or to distant parts of the body (M0).

OR

T1a

N0

M0

The tumor is no larger than 1 cm across, it has not reached the membranes that surround the lungs, and it does not affect the main branches of the bronchi (T1a). The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or to distant parts of the body (M0).

IA2

T1b

N0

M0

The tumor is larger than 1 cm but no larger than 2 cm across. It has not reached the membranes that surround the lungs, and it does not affect the main branches of the bronchi (T1b). The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or to distant parts of the body (M0).

IA3

T1c

N0

M0

The tumor is larger than 2 cm but no larger than 3 cm across. It has not reached the membranes that surround the lungs, and it does not affect the main branches of the bronchi (T1c). The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or to distant parts of the body (M0).

IB

T2a

N0

M0

The tumor has one or more of the following features (T2a):

  • It is larger than 3 cm but not larger than 4 cm across.
  • It has grown into a main bronchus, but is not within 2 cm of the carina (the point where the windpipe splits into the left and right main bronchi) and it is not larger than 4 cm across.
  • It has grown into the visceral pleura (the membranes surrounding the lungs) and is not larger than 4 cm across.
  • It is partially clogging the airways (and is not larger than 4 cm across).

The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or to distant parts of the body (M0).

IIA

T2b

N0

M0

The tumor has one or more of the following features (T2b):

  • It is larger than 4 cm but not larger than 5 cm across.
  • It has grown into a main bronchus, but is not within 2 cm of the carina (the point where the windpipe splits into the left and right main bronchi) and it is larger than 4 cm but not larger than 5 cm across.
  • The tumor has grown into the visceral pleura (the membranes surrounding the lungs) and is larger than 4 cm but not larger than 5 cm across.
  • The tumor is partially clogging the airways (and is larger than 4 cm but not larger than 5 cm across).

The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or to distant parts of the body (M0).

IIB

T1a/T1b/T1c

N1

M0

The tumor is no larger than 3 cm across, has not grown into the membranes that surround the lungs, and does not affect the main branches of the bronchi (T1). It has spread to lymph nodes within the lung and/or around the area where the bronchus enters the lung (hilar lymph nodes). These lymph nodes are on the same side as the cancer (N1). The cancer has not spread to distant parts of the body (M0).

OR

T2a/T2b

N1

M0

The tumor has one or more of the following features (T2):

  • It is larger than 3 cm but not larger than 5 cm across.
  • It has grown into a main bronchus, but is not within 2 cm of the carina (the point where the windpipe splits into the left and right main bronchi) and it is not larger than 5 cm across.
  • It has grown into the visceral pleura (the membranes surrounding the lungs) and is not larger than 5 cm.
  • It is partially clogging the airways (and is not larger than 5 cm).

The cancer has also spread to lymph nodes within the lung and/or around the area where the bronchus enters the lung (hilar lymph nodes). These lymph nodes are on the same side as the cancer (N1). The cancer has not spread to distant parts of the body (M0).

OR

T3

N0

M0

The tumor has one or more of the following features (T3):

  • It is larger than 5 cm but not larger than 7 cm across.
  • It has grown into the chest wall, the inner lining of the chest wall (parietal pleura), the phrenic nerve, or membranes of the sac surrounding the heart (parietal pericardium).
  • There are 2 or more separate tumor nodules in the same lobe of a lung.

The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or distant parts of the body (M0).

IIIA

T1a/T1b/T1c

N2

M0

The cancer is no larger than 3 cm across, has not grown into the membranes that surround the lungs, and does not affect the main branches of the bronchi (T1). The cancer has spread to lymph nodes around the carina (the point where the windpipe splits into the left and right bronchi) or in the space between the lungs (mediastinum). These lymph nodes are on the same side as the main lung tumor (N2). The cancer has not spread to distant parts of the body (M0).

OR

T2a/T2b

N2

M0

The tumor has one or more of the following features (T2):

  • It is larger than 3 cm but not larger than 5 cm across.
  • It has grown into a main bronchus, but is not within 2 cm of the carina (the point where the windpipe splits into the left and right main bronchi) and it is not larger than 5 cm across.
  • It has grown into the visceral pleura (the membranes surrounding the lungs) and is not larger than 5 cm.
  • It is partially clogging the airways (and is not larger than 5 cm).

The cancer has spread to lymph nodes around the carina (the point where the windpipe splits into the left and right bronchi) or in the space between the lungs (mediastinum). These lymph nodes are on the same side as the main lung tumor (N2). The cancer has not spread to distant parts of the body (M0).

OR

T3

N1

M0

The tumor has one or more of the following features (T3):

  • It is larger than 5 cm but not larger than 7 cm across.
  • It has grown into the chest wall, the inner lining of the chest wall (parietal pleura), the phrenic nerve, or membranes of the sac surrounding the heart (parietal pericardium).
  • There are 2 or more separate tumor nodules in the same lobe of a lung.

The cancer has also spread to lymph nodes within the lung and/or around the area where the bronchus enters the lung (hilar lymph nodes). These lymph nodes are on the same side as the cancer (N1). The cancer has not spread to distant parts of the body (M0).

OR

T4

N0 or N1

M0

The tumor has one or more of the following features (T4):

  • It is larger than 7 cm across.
  • It has grown into the space between the lungs (mediastinum), the heart, the large blood vessels near the heart (such as the aorta), the windpipe (trachea), the tube connecting the throat to the stomach (esophagus), the thin muscle separating the chest from the abdomen (diaphragm), the backbone, or the carina.
  • There are 2 or more separate tumor nodules in different lobes of the same lung.

The cancer may or may not have spread to lymph nodes within the lung and/or around the area where the bronchus enters the lung (hilar lymph nodes). Any affected lymph nodes are on the same side as the cancer (N0 or N1). The cancer has not spread to distant parts of the body (M0).

IIIB

T1a/T1b/T1c

N3

M0

The cancer is no larger than 3 cm across, has not grown into the membranes that surround the lungs, and does not affect the main branches of the bronchi (T1). The cancer has spread to lymph nodes near the collarbone on either side of the body, and/or has spread to hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes on the other side of the body from the main tumor (N3). The cancer has not spread to distant parts of the body (M0).

OR

T2a/T2b

N3

M0

The tumor has one or more of the following features (T2):

  • It is larger than 3 cm but not larger than 5 cm across.
  • It has grown into a main bronchus, but is not within 2 cm of the carina (the point where the windpipe splits into the left and right main bronchi) and it is not larger than 5 cm across.
  • It has grown into the visceral pleura (the membranes surrounding the lungs) and is not larger than 5 cm.
  • It is partially clogging the airways (and is not larger than 5 cm).

The cancer has spread to lymph nodes near the collarbone on either side of the body, and/or has spread to hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes on the other side of the body from the main tumor (N3). The cancer has not spread to distant parts of the body (M0).

OR

T3

N2

M0

The tumor has one or more of the following features (T3):

  • It is larger than 5 cm but not larger than 7 cm across.
  • It has grown into the chest wall, the inner lining of the chest wall (parietal pleura), the phrenic nerve, or membranes of the sac surrounding the heart (parietal pericardium).
  • There are 2 or more separate tumor nodules in the same lobe of a lung.

The cancer has spread to lymph nodes around the carina (the point where the windpipe splits into the left and right bronchi) or in the space between the lungs (mediastinum). These lymph nodes are on the same side as the main lung tumor (N2). The cancer has not spread to distant parts of the body (M0).

OR

T4

N2

M0

The tumor has one or more of the following features (T4):

  • It is larger than 7 cm across.
  • It has grown into the space between the lungs (mediastinum), the heart, the large blood vessels near the heart (such as the aorta), the windpipe (trachea), the tube connecting the throat to the stomach (esophagus), the thin muscle separating the chest from the abdomen (diaphragm), the backbone, or the carina (the point where the windpipe splits into the left and right main bronchi).
  • There are 2 or more separate tumor nodules in different lobes of the same lung.

The cancer has spread to lymph nodes around the carina (the point where the windpipe splits into the left and right bronchi) or in the space between the lungs (mediastinum). These lymph nodes are on the same side as the main lung tumor (N2). The cancer has not spread to distant parts of the body (M0).

IIIC

T3

N3

M0

The tumor has one or more of the following features (T3):

  • It is larger than 5 cm but not larger than 7 cm across.
  • It has grown into the chest wall, the inner lining of the chest wall (parietal pleura), the phrenic nerve, or membranes of the sac surrounding the heart (parietal pericardium).
  • There are 2 or more separate tumor nodules in the same lobe of a lung.

The cancer has spread to lymph nodes near the collarbone on either side of the body, and/or has spread to hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes on the other side of the body from the main tumor (N3). The cancer has not spread to distant parts of the body (M0).

OR

T4

N3

M0

The tumor has one or more of the following features (T4):

  • It is larger than 7 cm across.
  • It has grown into the space between the lungs (mediastinum), the heart, the large blood vessels near the heart (such as the aorta), the windpipe (trachea), the tube connecting the throat to the stomach (esophagus), the thin muscle separating the chest from the abdomen (diaphragm), the backbone (spine), or the carina (the point where the windpipe splits into the left and right main bronchi).
  • There are 2 or more separate tumor nodules in different lobes of the same lung.

The cancer has spread to lymph nodes near the collarbone on either side of the body, and/or has spread to hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes on the other side of the body from the main tumor (N3). The cancer has not spread to distant parts of the body (M0).

IVA

Any T

Any N

M1a

The cancer can be any size and may or may not have grown into nearby structures (any T). It may or may not have reached nearby lymph nodes (any N). In addition, any of the following is true (M1a):

  • The cancer has spread to the other lung.
  • Cancer cells are found in the fluid around the lung (called a malignant pleural effusion).
  • Cancer cells are found in the fluid around the heart (called a malignant pericardial effusion).

OR

Any T

Any N

M1b

The cancer can be any size and may or may not have grown into nearby structures (any T). It may or may not have reached nearby lymph nodes (any N). It has spread as a single tumor outside of the chest, such as to a distant lymph node or an organ such as the liver, bones, or brain (M1b).

IVB

Any T

Any N

M1c

The cancer can be any size and may or may not have grown into nearby structures (any T). It may or may not have reached nearby lymph nodes (any N). It has spread as more than one tumor outside the chest, such as to distant lymph nodes and/or to other organs such as the liver, bones, or brain (M1c).

*The following additional categories are not listed in the table above:

  • T0: There is no evidence of a primary tumor.
  • NX: Nearby lymph nodes cannot be assessed due to lack of information.