T Stages
T followed by numbers 0 through 4 refers to the size and extent of the tumor itself.
Stage, T1 - T4 |
Description |
T1 |
The tumor cannot be felt or seen using imaging techniques. |
T1a. Cancer cells are incidentally found in 5% or less of tissue samples from prostate surgery unrelated to cancer. | |
T1b. Cancer cells found in more than 5% of samples. | |
T1c. Cancer cells identified by needle biopsy, which is performed because of high PSA levels. | |
T2 |
The cancer is confined to the prostate but can be felt as a small well-defined nodule. |
T2a. Tumors are in half a prostate lobe. | |
T2b. Tumors are in more than half a lobe. | |
T2c. Tumors in both lobes. | |
T3 |
The tumor extends through the prostate capsule. |
T4 |
The tumor is fixed to or invades adjacent structures. |
N Stages
N followed by 0 through 3 refers to whether the cancer has reached the regional lymph nodes, which are located next to the prostate in the pelvic region.
Stage, N0 - N3 |
Description |
N0 |
Regional lymph nodes are still cancer-free. |
N1 |
A small tumor is in a single pelvic node. |
N2 |
A medium-size tumor is in one node, or small tumors are in several nodes. |
N3 |
A large tumor is in one or more nodes. |
M Stages
M stages refer to metastasis (tumors developing outside the prostate).
Stage |
Description |
M0 |
Metastasis has not occurred (cancer has not spread beyond the regional lymph nodes). |
M1a |
Cancer has spread to lymph nodes beyond the regional lymph nodes. |
M1b |
Cancer has invaded the bones. |
M1c |
Cancer has spread to other sites. |
The T, N, and M stages are used along with the grade, PSA test result, and other factors to determine the overall stage of the cancer:
- Stage I and stage II cancer are considered early stage. The cancer is localized and has not spread outside the prostate gland.
- Stage III, locally advanced cancer, means that the cancer has spread into the seminal vesicles (glands at the base of the bladder, which are connected to the prostate gland and help produce semen).
- Stage IV is advanced cancer. The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and other tissues or organs.
[For more information on staging, see Treatment section of this report.]
Review Date: 07/26/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
