Staging of Cancer and Methods for Unifying Systems Aims and Prospectives

Abstract

Although there may be other factors, such as degree of differentiation and endocrine function, that are important in determing the prognosis of a cancer, the most important single factor is the anatomic extent of the lesion. For the clinician the stage of the cancer is a major factor in finding the extent of treatment for individual cases. When cases are appropriately staged using the same definitions for staging, management of groups of patients can be reported, and data can be comparable and meaningful. Confusions with regard to definitions have been overcome by joint meetings of the National TNM Committees for unification of TNM definitions.