Staging & Prognostic Factors Flashcards

In prostate cancer staging, what Gleason score range indicates Grade Group 5 (the highest grade)?

Answer: Gleason 9-10

Grade Group 5 encompasses Gleason scores 9 and 10, representing the most poorly differentiated prostate tumors.

Which SEER summary stage category is used when cancer has spread only to regional lymph nodes with no distant spread?

Answer: Regional

SEER 'Regional' stage is assigned when cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or tissues but not to distant sites.

A tumor registrar is abstracting a case where pathology shows extension of the tumor into but not through the serosa of the colon. Which T category applies in AJCC 8th edition?

Answer: T3

T3 colon tumors invade through the muscularis propria into pericolorectal tissues but do not penetrate the visceral peritoneum.

Which receptor status combination confers the best prognosis in breast cancer?

Answer: ER+/PR+/HER2-

ER+/PR+/HER2- tumors are hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative, associated with the best overall prognosis among the major subtypes.

In the AJCC staging system, clinical staging (cTNM) is based on information available before which event?

Answer: First definitive treatment

Clinical staging uses all information obtained before the first definitive treatment, including physical exam, imaging, and biopsy results.

For melanoma, which prognostic factor is most important for T category assignment in AJCC 8th edition?

Answer: Breslow thickness and ulceration

Breslow thickness (measured in millimeters) and presence of ulceration are the primary determinants of the T category in AJCC 8th edition melanoma staging.

What does 'resection margin status' (R classification) describe in surgical pathology reports?

Answer: Presence of residual tumor after surgical resection

The R classification documents whether residual tumor remains after surgery: R0 (no residual), R1 (microscopic residual), or R2 (macroscopic residual).