cancer lungs: 12 STAGING

Staging is a system of classifying information about cancer, including location and how far the cancer has spread. TNM system is often used in establishing the stages of lung cancer, especially for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Lung tumors are classified according to tumor size (T), the level of lymph node involvement (N), and how far the cancer has spread (M). Staging Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer include:
 Stage 0. At this stage, limited cancer of the lining of the airways and lung tissue had invaded. 0 cancer, is often found during bronchoscopy performed, which may be done to see the X-ray abnormalities in the chest. When found and treated as soon as possible, of cancer at this stage can be eliminated.
 Stage I. Cancer at this stage has invaded lung tissue, but has not spread to the lymph node.
 Stage II. At this stage the cancer has spread to surrounding lymph nodes and invade the chest wall
 Stage IIIA. At this stage, the cancer has spread from the lungs to the lymph node in the center of the chest.
 Stage IIIB. The cancer has spread to areas such as the heart, blood vessels, trachea and esophagus or to the lymph nodules in the collarbone area.
 Stage IV. The cancer has spread to other parts of the body such as the liver, bones or brain.

Staging for Small Cell Lung Cancer is different from Non-Small Cell is divided into limited and extensive:
 Limited. Cancer of the lungs and nearby lymph nodes.

 Extensive. The cancer has spread outside the lung and surrounding lymph nodes, and may have attacked the lungs or other organs.

Staging test used to determine how far the cancer has spread is important in planning treatment. In addition to CT scan, this test includes:
 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). In addition to radiation, this test uses radio waves and powerful magnets to produce images of body parts. This is very good for detecting tumors that have spread to the brain or spinal cord.
 Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans. Unlike other imaging techniques, PET scans do not produce images clear organ structure. Even this way of producing color images of the area with more or less intense to provide information about chemical activity within certain organs and tissues. This chemical activity may indicate whether the cancer cells have spread to nearby lymph node, even before the enlarged lymph node. However, PET scans should be interpreted carefully, because sometimes benign conditions can mimic cancer.