What does TNM N3 indicate in cancer staging?

What does TNM N3 indicate in cancer staging?

• A. Metastasis in ≥10 regional lymph nodes or extensive nodal involvement.
• B. Metastasis to distant organs only.
• C. No regional lymph node metastasis.
• D. Nodal involvement limited to a single lymph node.

Answer: (A)

In cancer staging, N describes regional lymph node involvement, and the higher the N value, the more extensive the nodal spread. N3 represents the most extensive nodal involvement among the common N categories, described here as metastasis in ten or more regional lymph nodes or an overall extensive nodal disease. This reflects a much heavier nodal burden than lesser N stages. The other possibilities point to different aspects: distant metastasis to distant organs is about the M category, not N; no regional lymph node metastasis is N0; nodal involvement limited to a single lymph node corresponds to a much lower N category (often N1).

In cancer staging, N describes regional lymph node involvement, and the higher the N value, the more extensive the nodal spread. N3 represents the most extensive nodal involvement among the common N categories, described here as metastasis in ten or more regional lymph nodes or an overall extensive nodal disease. This reflects a much heavier nodal burden than lesser N stages.

The other possibilities point to different aspects: distant metastasis to distant organs is about the M category, not N; no regional lymph node metastasis is N0; nodal involvement limited to a single lymph node corresponds to a much lower N category (often N1).