Mesothelioma » Stages of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma stages and staging system : Part – 4

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:04:24 +0000

Brigham Staging System

It is the most recent staging system for mesothelioma and looks at variables such as lymph node status and tumor resectability (ability to surgically remove a tumor). The Brigham staging system consists of four stages:

Stage	Location
I	Resectable mesothelioma and no lymph node involvement
II	Resectable mesothelioma but with lymph node involvement
III	Unresectable mesothelioma extending into chest wall, heart, or through diaphragm, peritoneum; with or without extrathoracic lymph node involvement
IV	Distant metastatic disease

Mesothelioma stages and staging system : Part – 3

admin — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:02:56 +0000

TNM Staging System

This system considers three components; the first letter of each forming the name of the system. Doctors using TNM will look at the tumor, lymph nodes, and whether the cancer has metastasized. Like the Butchart system, it is divided into four stages.

Stage	Location
T1a	Limited to ipsilateral parietal pleura (including mediastinal and diaphragmatic pleura), with no involvement of visceral pleura
T1b	Ipsilateral parietal pleura (including mediastinal and diaphragmatic pleura), with scattered foci of visceral pleural involvement
T2	Ipsilateral pleural surface has at least 1 of the following: Diaphragmatic muscle involvement Confluent visceral pleural tumor involvement (including fissures) Extension from visceral pleura into pulmonary parenchyma
T3	Locally advanced but resectable tumor; each ipsilateral pleural surface has at least 1 of the following: Involvement of the endothoracic fascia Extension into the mediastinal fat Solitary, completely resectable tumor focus in chest wall soft tissues Nontransmural involvement of the pericardium
T4	Locally advanced, technically unresectable tumor; each ipsilateral pleural surface has at least 1 of the following: Diffuse extension or multifocal chest wall masses with or without rib destruction Direct transdiaphragmatic extension into the peritoneum Direct extension to contralateral pleura Direct extension to 1 or more mediastinal organs Direct extension into spine Extension through to internal surface of pericardium, with or without pericardial effusion or myocardial involvement
NX	Regional lymph nodes not assessable
N0	No regional lymph nodes metastases
N1	Metastases in ipsilateral bronchopulmonary or hilar lymph nodes
N2	Metastases in subcarinal or ipsilateral mediastinal lymph nodes, including ipsilateral internal mammary nodes
N3	Metastases in contralateral mediastinal, contralateral internal mammary, and ipsilateral or contralateral supraclavicular lymph nodes
MX	Distant metastases not assessable
M0	No distant metastases
M1	Distant metastases present

Mesothelioma stages and staging system : Part – 2

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:59:48 +0000

An important aspect is that as pleural mesothelioma is the most common among all types of cancer and occurs frequently, these staging systems are devised to mark its stages.

The three established and recognized clinical staging systems for mesothelioma are:

The Butchart System
TNM Staging
The Brigham System

The Butchart Staging System:

Butchart is the oldest system and is still the most commonly used. Its four stages are based on the extent of primary tumor mass.

Stage	Location
I	Tumor confined to the ipsilateral pleura, lung, or pericardium
II	Tumor invading the chest wall or mediastinal structures or metastases to thoracic lymph nodes
III	Tumor penetrating the diaphragm to involve the peritoneum or metastases to extrathoracic lymph nodes
IV	Distant blood-borne metastases

Mesothelioma stages and staging system : Part – 1

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:37:01 +0000

Staging is the process of finding out how far the mesothelioma cancer has spread. Doctors determine which treatments to use based on the mesothelioma stage, or the severity of the disease. Staging of mesothelioma is based on imaging studies such as x-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans.

To keep a track of mesothelioma cancer, the extent of its spread and the size of tumor(s); mesothelioma has been divided into a few stages or staging systems. These mesothelioma staging systems keep a track of the development of cancer in the human body. The tests and scans when diagnosing cancer give some information about the stage. It is important because treatment is often decided according to the stage of a cancer.
Some elements common to most staging systems are:
• Location of the primary tumor.
• Size and number of the tumors.
• Lymph node involvement.
• Cell type and tumor grade.
• Metastasis.

Many cancer registries, such as the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) use summary staging, a system used for all types of cancer. Summary staging groups cancer into five main categories:

• In situ – cancer that is present only in the layer of cells in which it began.

• Localized – cancer that is limited to the organ in which it began with no evidence of spread.

• Regional – cancer that has spread from the primary site to nearby lymph nodes or organs.

• Distant – cancer that has spread from the primary site to distant lymph nodes or organs.

• Unknown – cases where not enough information exists to indicate stage.