Guidelines for the Management of Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Table 2

AJCC TNM Classification for STS [21].

Classification	Description
Primary Tumour (T)
TX	Primary tumour cannot be assessed
T0	No evidence of primary tumour
T1	Tumour ≤5 cm in greatest dimension
	T1a Superficial tumour
	T1b Deep tumour
T2	Tumour >5 cm in greatest dimension
	T2a Superficial tumour
	T2b Deep tumour
Regional lymph nodes (N)
NX	Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0	No regional lymph node metastasis
N1	Regional lymph node metastasis
Distant metastasis (M)
MX	Distant metastasis cannot be assessed
M0	No distant metastasis
M1	Distant metastasis
Histologic grade (G)*
GX	Grade cannot be assessed
G1	Well-differentiated
G2	Moderately differentiated
G3	Poorly differentiated
G4	Poorly differentiated or undifferentiated

Physical examination, diagnostic radiology and biopsy provide the AJCC criteria input data needed to stage STS.
${}^{*}$The AJCC system uses 4 histologic grades whilst the recommended UK system (FNCLCC) uses 3. The matching grades are G1 = low grade, G2 = intermediate grade and G3 and G4 = high grade.