Table 3. Definitions of pTNM Stages IA and IB for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagusa

StageTNMGradeTumor LocationDescriptionIllustration
IAT1a, N0, M0G1Any–T1a = Tumor invades the lamina propria or muscularis mucosae.
Stage IA squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus; drawing shows the esophagus and stomach. An inset shows grade 1 cancer cells or cancer cells of an unknown grade in the mucosa layer and thin muscle layer of the esophagus wall. Also shown are the submucosa layer, thick muscle layer, and connective tissue layer of the esophagus wall. The lymph nodes are also shown.
N0 = No regional lymph node metastasis.
M0 = No distant metastasis.
G1 = Well differentiated.
Any L = See Table 1.
T1a, N0, M0GXAny–T1a = Tumor invades the lamina propria or muscularis mucosae.
N0 = No regional lymph node metastasis.
M0 = No distant metastasis.
GX = Grade cannot be assessed.
Any L = See Table 1.
IBT1a, N0, M0G2–G3Any–T1a = Tumor invades the lamina propria or muscularis mucosae.
Stage IB squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus; drawing shows the esophagus and stomach. A two-panel inset shows the layers of the esophagus wall: the mucosa layer, thin muscle layer, submucosa layer, thick muscle layer, and connective tissue layer. The lymph nodes are also shown. The left panel shows cancer cells that are any grade or of an unknown grade in the mucosa layer, thin muscle layer, and submucosa layer. The right panel shows grade 1 cancer cells in the mucosa layer, thin muscle layer, submucosa layer, and thick muscle layer.
N0 = No regional lymph node metastasis.
M0 = No distant metastasis.
G2 = Moderately differentiated.
G3 = Poorly differentiated, undifferentiated.
Any L = See Table 1.
T1b, N0, M0G1–G3Any–T1b = Tumor invades the submucosa.
N0 = No regional lymph node metastasis.
M0 = No distant metastasis.
G1 = Well differentiated.
G2 = Moderately differentiated.
G3 = Poorly differentiated, undifferentiated.
Any L = See Table 1.
T1b, N0, M0GXAny–T1b = Tumor invades the submucosa.
N0 = No regional lymph node metastasis.
M0 = No distant metastasis.
GX = Grade cannot be assessed.
Any L = See Table 1.
T2, N0, M0G1AnyT2 = Tumor invades the muscularis propria.
N0 = No regional lymph node metastasis.
M0 = No distant metastasis.
G1 = Well differentiated.
Any L = See Table 1.

T = primary tumor; N = regional lymph nodes; M = distant metastasis; G = grade; L = location; p = pathological.

aReprinted with permission from AJCC: Esophageal and esophagogastric junction. In: Amin MB, Edge SB, Greene FL, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2017, pp. 185–202.

From: Esophageal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)

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