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DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1639944
Unsolved problems of the new TNM classification
In the beginning of 2017, the 8th edition of the TNM classification of malignant tumors has been available. The classification for head and neck carcinoma regarding the p16-Expression changed.
However, the situation is unclear when the primary tumor and local lymph node metastasis shows a different expression of p16.
We introduce a patient with oropharyngeal carcinoma and ipsilateral cervical metastasis.
After tumorextraction and selective neck dissection on both sides, the histological result shows a p-16 positivity in the primary tumor, but this expression was not detected in the cervical lymph nodes. There was no evidence of a second carcinoma during the staging examination.
Using the 8th edition of the outgoing TNM classification, the classification of p16-positiv tumors has to be pT2, pN1, V0, R0 (UICC Stadium III) and for the p16-negative pT2, pN2a, V0, R0 (UICC stage IVa).
The question now arises which of the two named TNM classifications should be used in this case.
No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).
Publication History
Publication Date:
23 May 2018 (online)
© 2018. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
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