Person with cancer—distant metastasis status, M stage (UICC TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours, 6th edn) code XX

Guide for use:

TNM staging applies to solid tumours excluding brain tumours.

Choose the lower (less advanced) M category when there is any uncertainty.

Origin:

International Union Against Cancer (UICC)

Commission on Cancer, American College of Surgeons

Comments:

Cancer prognosis and survival can be related to the extent of the disease at diagnosis. Survival rates are generally higher if the disease is localised to the organ of origin compared with cases in which the tumour has spread beyond the primary site.

Staging systems seek to classify patients having a similar prognosis into groups or stages. TNM staging is an internationally agreed staging classification system based on the anatomical site of the primary tumour and its extent of spread. The T component refers to the size of the tumour and whether or not it has spread to surrounding tissues. The N component describes the presence or absence of tumour in regional lymph nodes. The M component refers to the presence or absence of tumour at sites distant from the primary site.