TNM Classification of Laryngeal Cancer

A set of 25 vocabulary-style flashcards based on the TNM classification of laryngeal cancer encompassing Supraglottis, Glottis, and Subglottis subsites.

Supraglottis T1

Tumour limited to one subsite of supraglottis with normal vocal cord mobility.

Supraglottis T2

Tumour invades mucosa of more than one adjacent subsites of supraglottis or glottis or region outside the supraglottis (e.g. mucosa of base of tongue, vallecula, medial wall of piriform sinus) without fixation of the larynx.

Supraglottis T3

Tumour limited to larynx with vocal cord fixation and/or invades any of the following: postcricoid area, preepiglottic tissues, paraglottic space and/or minor thyroid cartilage invasion.

Supraglottis T4a

Tumour invades through the thyroid cartilage and/or invades tissues beyond the larynx (e.g. trachea, soft tissues of neck including deep extrinsic muscle of tongue, strap muscles, thyroid or oesophagus).

Supraglottis T4b

Tumour invades prevertebral space, encases carotid artery or invades mediastinal structures.

Glottis T1

Tumour limited to vocal cord(s) (may involve anterior or posterior commissures) with normal mobility.

Glottis T1a

Tumour limited to one vocal cord.

Glottis T1b

Tumour involves both vocal cords.

Glottis T2

Tumour extends to supraglottis and/or subglottis, and/or with impaired vocal cord mobility.

Glottis T3

Tumour limited to the larynx with vocal cord fixation and/or invades paraglottic space and/or minor thyroid cartilage erosion.

Glottis T4a

Tumour invades through thyroid cartilage and/or invades tissues beyond the larynx (e.g. trachea, soft tissues of neck including deep extrinsic muscles of the tongue, strap muscles, thyroid, or oesophagus).

Glottis T4b

Tumour invades prevertebral space, encases carotid artery or invades mediastinal structures.

Subglottis T1

Tumour limited to the subglottis.

Subglottis T2

Tumour extends to vocal cord(s) with normal or impaired mobility.

Subglottis T3

Tumour limited to larynx with vocal cord fixation.

Subglottis T4a

Tumour invades cricoid or thyroid cartilage and/or invades tissues beyond the larynx (e.g. trachea, soft tissues of neck including deep extrinsic muscle of tongue, strap muscles, thyroid or oesophagus).

Subglottis T4b

Tumour invades prevertebral space, encases carotid artery or invades mediastinal structures.

NX

Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed.

N0

No regional lymph node metastasis.

Preepiglottic tissues

Tissues that, if invaded by a Supraglottis tumour while limited to the larynx, define a T3 stage.

Paraglottic space

A space that, if invaded by a Supraglottis or Glottis tumour, leads to a T3 classification.

Medial wall of piriform sinus

A region outside the supraglottis that may be invaded by a Supraglottis T2 tumour.

Strap muscles

Soft tissues of the neck that may be invaded in T4a laryngeal cancer.

Prevertebral space

An anatomical area whose invasion results in a T4b classification for Supraglottis, Glottis, or Subglottis tumours.

Carotid artery

A vessel that, if encased by a laryngeal tumour, categorizes the cancer as T4b.