Staging
Staging is a process that tells a doctor if a cancer has spread and if it has, how far. Staging for appendix cancer is different depending on whether the tumor is a carcinoma or a carcinoid tumor. Here are the stages of carcinoid tumors of the appendix:
Staging of Carcinoid Tumors of the Appendix
Staging of Carcinomas of the Appendix
- Stage 0 - "Carcinoma in situ." Abnormal, but non-invasive cells found in inner layer of the appendix.
- Stage I - Cancer is found in the inner layers of the appendix.
- Stage IIa - Cancer has grown through the inner layers into the outer layer or into the connective tissue surrounding the appendix.
- Stage IIb - Cancer has grown through the outer lining of the appendix, but has not invaded other organs or structures.
- Stage IIc - Cancer has grown through the outer lining of the appendix and is invading other organs or structures.
- Stage IIIa - Cancer is found in the inner layers of the appendix as well as 1-3 nearby lymph nodes.
- Stage IIIb - Cancer has grown through the outer layer or into nearby tissue and is also found in 1-3 nearby lymph nodes.
- Stage IIIc - Cancer is found in 4 or more nearby lymph nodes.
- Stage IVa - Cancer has spread to the lining of the abdomen but not to lymph nodes or other organs. Typically refers to slow growing mucinous tumors.
- Stage IVb - Cancer has spread to the lining of the abdomen, but not to lymph nodes or other organs and tumor is not low grade. OR Cancer has spread to other parts of the abdomen and 1-3 lymph nodes. Tumor may be any grade. OR Cancer has spread to other parts of the abdomen and 4 or more nearby lymph nodes. Tumor may be any grade.
- Stage IVc - Cancer has spread outside of the abdomen to other parts of the body.
