Oral cancer classification

Oral cancer Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Oral cancer from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
Staging
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
X Ray
CT
MRI
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Oral cancer classification On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Oral cancer classification All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Oral cancer classification
CDC on Oral cancer classification
Oral cancer classification in the news
Blogs on Oral cancer classification
Directions to Hospitals Treating Oral cancer
Risk calculators and risk factors for Oral cancer classification

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Simrat Sarai, M.D. [2]

Classification

The following stages are used for lip and oral cavity cancer:

Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ)

In stage 0, abnormal cells are found in the lining of the lips and oral cavity. These abnormal cells may become cancer and spread into nearby normal tissue. Stage 0 is also called carcinoma in situ.

Stage I

In stage I, cancer has formed and the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller. Cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.

Stage II

In stage II, the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 4 centimeters, andcancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.

Stage III

In stage III, the tumor:

may be any size and has spread to one lymph node that is 3 centimeters or smaller, on the same side of the neck as the tumor; or is larger than 4 centimeters.

Stage IV

Stage IV is divided into stages IVA, IVB, and IVC.

In stage IVA, the tumor:

has spread through tissue in the lip or oral cavity into nearby tissue and/or bone (jaw, tongue, floor of mouth, maxillary sinus, or skin on the chin or nose);cancer may have spread to one lymph node that is 3 centimeters or smaller, on the same side of the neck as the tumor; or is any size or has spread through tissue in the lip or oral cavity into nearby tissue and/or bone (jaw, tongue, floor of mouth, maxillary sinus, or skin on the chin or nose), and cancer has spread:

to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the tumor and the lymph node is larger than 3 centimeters but not larger than 6 centimeters; or to more than one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the tumor and the lymph nodes are not larger than 6 centimeters; or to lymph nodes on the opposite side of the neck as the tumor or on both sides of the neck, and the lymph nodes are not larger than 6 centimeters.

In stage IVB, the tumor:

may be any size and has spread to one or more lymph nodes that are larger than 6 centimeters; or has spread further into the muscles or bones in the oral cavity, or to the base of the skull and/or the carotid artery. Cancer may have spread to one or more lymph nodes anywhere in the neck.

In stage IVC, the tumor has spread beyond the lip or oral cavity to distant parts of the body, such as the lungs. The tumor may be any size and may have spread to the lymph nodes.

Name	Description
Stage 0	In stage 0, abnormal cells are found in the lining of the lips and oral cavity. These abnormal cells may become cancer and spread into nearby normal tissue. Stage 0 is also called carcinoma in situ.	Stage I	In stage I, cancer has formed and the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller. Cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage II	In stage II, the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 4 centimeters, and cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage III	In stage III, the tumor:	may be any size and has spread to one lymph node that is 3 centimeters or smaller, on the same side of the neck as the tumor; or is larger than 4 centimeters.
Stage IV	Stage IV is divided into stages IVA, IVB, and IVC.
Stage IVA	Includes: In stage IVA, the tumor: has spread through tissue in the lip or oral cavity into nearby tissue and/or bone (jaw, tongue, floor of mouth, maxillary sinus, or skin on the chin or nose);cancer may have spread to one lymph node that is 3 centimeters or smaller, on the same side of the neck as the tumor; or is any size or has spread through tissue in the lip or oral cavity into nearby tissue and/or bone (jaw, tongue, floor of mouth, maxillary sinus, or skin on the chin or nose), and cancer has spread: to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the tumor and the lymph node is larger than 3 centimeters but not larger than 6 centimeters; or to more than one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the tumor and the lymph nodes are not larger than 6 centimeters; or to lymph nodes on the opposite side of the neck as the tumor or on both sides of the neck, and the lymph nodes are not larger than 6 centimeters.
Stage IVB	Includes: In stage IVB, the tumor: may be any size and has spread to one or more lymph nodes that are larger than 6 centimeters; or has spread further into the muscles or bones in the oral cavity, or to the base of the skull and/or the carotid artery. Cancer may have spread to one or more lymph nodes anywhere in the neck.
Stage IVC	Includes: In stage IVC, the tumor has spread beyond the lip or oral cavity to distant parts of the body, such as the lungs. The tumor may be any size and may have spread to the lymph nodes.