Comparison of two common staging classification systems for prostate cancer
| Whitmore-Jewett staging system | AJCCS and UICC TNM staging system |
|---|---|
| AJCCS, American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging; UICC, International Union Against Cancer. | |
| A1: Microscopic focus of well differentiated adenocarcinoma in up to three foci of transurethral specimens or enucleation; clinically not apparent on rectal examination | T1: Tumour not palpable nor visible by imaging |
| (a) Incidental finding in <5% of resected tissue | |
| (b) Incidental finding in >5% of resected tissue | |
| A2: Tumour not well differentiated or present in more than three areas | (c) Tumour identified on needle biopsy due to raised PSA |
| B1: Asymptomatic palpable nodule <1.5 cm; normal surrounding prostate; no capsular extension; normal acid phosphatase | T2: Tumour confined to prostate |
| (a) Involving one lobe only | |
| B2: Diffuse involvement of gland; no capsular extension; normal acid phosphatase | (b) Involving both lobes |
| T3: Tumour extends through the prostatic capsule | |
| C: Extensive local tumour with penetration through the capsule, contiguous spread; may involve seminal vesicles, bladder neck, lateral side wall of pelvis; acid phosphatase may be elevated; normal bone scan | (a) Extracapsular extension |
| (b) Tumour invades seminal vesicles | |
| T4: Tumour is fixed or invades adjacent structures other than seminal vesicles | |
| D1: Metastases to pelvic lymph nodes below aortic bifurcation; acid phosphatase may be elevated | N1: Metatases in regional lymph node(s) |
| M1: Distant metastases | |
| D2: Bone or lymph node metastases above aortic bifurcation or other soft tissue metastases | (a) Non-regional lymph nodes |
| (b) Bone | |
| (c) Other sites | |