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Esophageal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)

  • Updated: 02/15/2013

Table 4. Anatomic Stage/Prognostic Groupsa

Squamous Cell Carcinoma b  
Stage  T N M Grade Tumor Locationc 
0Tis (HGD)N0M01, XAny
IAT1N0M01, XAny
IBT1N0M02–3Any
T2–3N0M01, XLower, X
IIAT2–3N0M01, XUpper, middle
T2–3N0M02–3Lower, X
IIBT2–3N0M02–3Upper, middle
T1–2N1M0AnyAny
IIIAT1–2N2M0AnyAny
T3N1M0AnyAny
T4aN0M0AnyAny
IIIBT3N2M0AnyAny
IIICT4aN1–2M0AnyAny
T4bAnyM0AnyAny
AnyN3M0AnyAny
IVAnyAnyM1AnyAny
Adenocarcinoma
Stage T N M Grade
0Tis (HGD)N0M01, X
IAT1N0M01–2, X
IBT1N0M03
T2N0M01–2, X
IIAT2N0M03
IIBT3N0M0Any
T1–2N1M0Any
IIIAT1–2N2M0Any
T3N1M0Any
T4aN0M0Any
IIIBT3N2M0Any
IIICT4aN1–2M0Any
T4bAnyM0Any
AnyN3M0Any
IVAnyAnyM1Any

HGD = high-grade dysplasia.
aReprinted with permission from AJCC: Esophageal and esophagogastric junction. In: Edge SB, Byrd DR, Compton CC, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 7th ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2010, pp 103-15.
bOr mixed histology, including a squamous component or not otherwise specified.
cLocation of the primary cancer site is defined by the position of the upper (proximal) edge of the tumor in the esophagus.