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FAQs
1 The Pancreas
2 Pancreatic Cancer
3 Causes of PC
4 Heredity
5 Risk Factors
6 Diagnosis
7 Metastasis
8 Staging
9 Questions to ask
10 Surgical Treatment
11 Medical Treatment
12 Vaccine
13 Symptoms & Side Effects
14 Screening
15 Pain Management
16 Diet & Exercise
17 Final Stages & Hospice


8) How and why is pancreatic cancer staged?

There is considerable overlap between the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and the staging of the cancer. The results of various diagnostic tests will indicate how far the cancer has progressed and determine the stage. Subsequent decicions about treatment will be based upon the stage assigned.

Although different stages carry different prognoses, it is important to remember that the Median isn't the Message. (an excellent article regarding prognoses and statistics by Stephen Jay Gould)

The charts below are part of a very common system used by doctors to stage pancreatic tumors. These particular charts are for pancreatic carcinoma. The staging system varies slightly for tumors of the bile duct or ampulla of Vater.

The stage of a pancreatic cancer is determined by 3 factors: T, N, and M. A value is assigned for each of these factors based on the diagnostic test results. Click on these links to see the how each factor is ranked or scaled.

T= location and size of the tumor
N= evidence of metastases in lymph nodes close to the cancer
M= evidence of distant metastases
Stage Grouping for Primary Tumors of the Exocrine Pancreas
Stage Tumor Regional Lymph Nodes Distant Metastases
Stage 0
Stage IA
Stage IB
Stage IIA
Stage IIB

N1
N1
N1
Stage III
Stage IV


Definition of Tumor (T)
TX Primary tumor cannot be assessed
T0 No evidence of primary tumor
Tis In situ carcinoma
T1 Tumor limited to the pancreas, 2 cm or less in greatest dimension
T2 Tumor limited to the pancreas, more than 2 cm in greatest dimension
T3 Tumor extends directly into any of the following: duodenum, bile duct, peripancreatic tissues
T4 Tumor extends directly into any of the following: stomach, spleen, colon, adjacent large vessels

Definition of Regional Lymph Nodes (N)
NX Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0 No regional lymph node metastasis
N1

Regional lymph node metastasis

pN1a= metastasis in a single regional lymph node
pN1b= metastasis in multiple regional lymph nodes


Definition of Distant Metastasis (M)
MX Distant metastasis cannot be assessed
M0 No distant metastasis
M1

Distant metastasis

     
 

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This site is supported by generous educational grants from the Vesalius Trust

Disclaimer: No two patients with pancreas cancer are identical. The appropriate treatment of individual patients with pancreatic cancer varies greatly depending on the patient's medical and surgical history. The information expressed in this Web page is not medical advice. It is meant only to educate health care professionals and patients about the current status of treatment and research in pancreas cancer at Hopkins. Before making any medical decisions, patients with pancreatic cancer are advised to consult with their personal physicians.