Kidney cancer staging is mainly based on the size of tumor, whether there is metastasis in lymph nodes, involvement of adjacent organs or lymphatic vessels and distant organ metastasis to determine the specific staging. In clinical practice, TNM staging system is commonly used to stage kidney cancer, T represents the depth of tumor infiltration, N represents lymph node metastasis, and M represents distant metastasis, and we determine the clinical stage of kidney cancer based on TNM staging. Accurate tumor staging has greater clinical significance in formulating treatment plans and judging prognosis.
Tx : primary foci cannot be evaluated
T0 : No evidence of primary tumor
T1 : maximum diameter ≤7cm, confined to kidney
T1a ≤4cm in maximum diameter, confined to the kidney
T1b 4cm < 7cm maximum diameter, confined to the kidney
T2: maximal diameter >7cm, confined to kidney
T2a 7cm <10cm maximum diameter, limited to the kidney
T2b maximal diameter >10cm, confined to the kidney
T3: Invasion of large vein or adrenal gland or diaphragm tissue but not beyond Gerota’s envelope
T3a Direct invasion of the renal vein and its branches or perinephric and/or perirenal fat but not beyond the Gerota envelope
T3b Invasion of the vena cava below the diaphragm
T3c Invasion of the inferior vena cava above the diaphragm, or invasion of the inferior vena cava wall
T4: Tumor beyond the Gerota envelope (including invasion of the ipsilateral adrenal gland)
Regional lymph nodes (N)
Nx : regional lymph nodes cannot be evaluated
N0: no lymph node metastasis
N1: unilateral regional lymph node metastasis
Distant metastasis (M)
Mx : Distant metastasis could not be evaluated
M0 : No distant metastasis
M1: distant metastasis