Collaborative Stage for TNM 7 - Revised 12/16/2009 [ Schema ]
| Code | Description | Staging Basis | 
| 0 | Does not meet criteria for AJCC pathologic staging:  No regional lymph nodes or in-transit metastases (nodules) removed for examination. Evidence based on physical examination, imaging examination, or other non-invasive clinical evidence. No autopsy evidence used.  | c | 
| 1 | Does not meet criteria for AJCC pathologic staging: No regional lymph nodes or in-transit metastases (nodules) removed for examination. Evidence based on endoscopic examination, or other invasive techniques including surgical observation without biopsy. No autopsy evidence used.  | c | 
| 2 | Meets criteria for AJCC pathologic staging:  No regional lymph nodes or in-transit metastases (nodules) removed for examination, but evidence derived from autopsy (tumor was suspected or diagnosed prior to autopsy).  | p | 
| 3 | Meets criteria for AJCC pathologic staging:  Any microscopic assessment of regional nodes or in-transit metastases (nodules) (including FNA, incisional core needle bx, excisional bx, sentinel node bx or node resection).  | p | 
| 5 | Does not meet criteria for AJCC y-pathologic (yp) staging:  Regional lymph nodes or in-transit metastases (nodules) removed for examination AFTER neoadjuvant therapy AND lymph node or in-transit metastases (nodules) evaluation based on clinical evidence, unless the pathologic evidence at surgery (AFTER neoadjuvant) is more extensive (see code 6).  | c | 
| 6 | Meets criteria for AJCC y-pathologic (yp) staging:  Regional lymph nodes or in-transit metastases (nodules) removed for examination AFTER neoadjuvant therapy AND lymph node or in-transit metastases (nodules) evaluation based on pathologic evidence, because the pathologic evidence at surgery is more extensive than clinical evidence before treatment.  | yp | 
| 8 | Meets criteria for AJCC autopsy (a) staging:  Evidence from autopsy; tumor was unsuspected or undiagnosed prior to autopsy.  | a | 
| 9 | Unknown if lymph nodes or in-transit metastases (nodules) removed for examination Not assessed; cannot be assessed Unknown if assessed Not documented in patient record  | c |