What are the TNM stages of nasopharyngeal carcinoma? What should we pay attention to in our diet for nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

What are the TNM stages of nasopharyngeal carcinoma? What should be paid attention to in the diet of nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

In order to develop a reasonable treatment plan, correctly evaluate the treatment effect and judge the prognosis, the International Union Against Cancer proposed the TNM staging system, in which T refers to the primary tumor, N refers to the lymph node, and M refers to distant metastasis. According to the severity of the tumor, numbers 0 to 4 are added after the letters to indicate the degree of tumor development.

The TNM staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is as follows:

1. Primary tumor T stage

Tis: carcinoma in situ; T0: no primary cancer found; T1: tumor is confined to the nasopharynx; T2: tumor invades the nasal cavity and/or oropharynx, T2a: no parapharyngeal space invasion, T2b: parapharyngeal space invasion; T3: tumor invades the skull base bone and/or paranasal sinuses; T4: tumor invades the skull, cranial nerves, hypopharynx, infratemporal fossa, orbit, and masticatory muscles.

2. Lymph node metastasis N stage

N0: no cervical lymph node metastasis; N1: unilateral cervical lymph node metastasis, with the largest diameter less than 6 cm, located above the supraclavicular fossa; N2: bilateral cervical lymph node metastasis, with the diameter less than 6 cm, located above the supraclavicular fossa; N3: cervical lymph node metastasis.

3. Distant metastasis M stage

M0 has no distant metastasis; M1 has distant metastasis.

Clinicians use the above criteria to determine the patient's tumor stage. The tumor can be T1N0M0, T1N1M0, T2N1M0, T2N1M1, T3N2M1, etc.