TNM Alternative Staging System for Mesothelioma

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) has developed alternative mesothelioma staging system. Namely TNM system derived from abbreviation:
T = Tumor
N = assault on lymph Nodes
M = Metasis

This staging system is based on the few things as follows
- the size of tumor
- the extent to which it has spread to other organs
- spread to lymph nodes
- the extent of spread to not nearby organs

There are 4 stages in TNM staging system:

Stage I. The mesothelioma has spread in the right or left side of lungs. It is possible for it to spread to diaphragm or pericardium on the same side as right or left lungs. However, there is no indication that it spread to the lymph nodes.

Stage II: The mesothelioma cells have spread to lymph nodes, diaphragm and the lungs on the same side.

Stage III:  The development of mesothelioma has expanded to the muscles of esophagus, heart, chest wall, ribs and other organs. It also spread to lymph nodes.

Stage IV. At this stage, mesothelioma spread to the lymph nodes and start spreading to the entire lungs. The mesothelioma starts spreading through bloodstream to other distant organs.

Though the TNM system is new and clearly comprehensive, many doctors still use Butchart system as the staging method of mesothelioma. But it does not matter how they use the method to diagnose, the most important part is deciding appropriate medical treatments for patients suffering mesothelioma.