AJCC staging system

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AJCC Staging System

The AJCC Staging System (pronounced as "A-J-C-C Staging System"), also known as the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging System, is a standardized method for describing the extent of disease progression in cancer patients. The system is used by medical professionals worldwide to determine the severity of the patient's condition and to plan the most effective treatment strategies.

Etymology

The AJCC Staging System is named after the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), the organization that developed and maintains the system. The AJCC was established in 1959 by a consortium of professional organizations with the aim of creating a unified and standardized approach to cancer staging.

Description

The AJCC Staging System uses a combination of three key factors to stage cancer:

  • Tumor (T): This refers to the size and/or extent of the primary tumor.
  • Node (N): This refers to the number of nearby lymph nodes that have cancer.
  • Metastasis (M): This refers to whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Each factor is assigned a numerical value, creating a detailed picture of the patient's condition. For example, a patient with T1, N0, M0 cancer has a small tumor that has not spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Related Terms

  • Cancer staging: The process of determining the extent of cancer in the body.
  • TNM staging system: A commonly used cancer staging system that is similar to the AJCC Staging System.
  • Metastasis: The spread of cancer cells from the place where they first formed to another part of the body.
  • Lymph node: A small, bean-shaped organ that filters out harmful substances and helps fight infection and disease.

External links

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