Mesothelioma Staging - TNM Staging System

There are several staging systems used to determine whether patient’s are in the early stages of mesothelioma, another asbestos cancer, or cancer in general, or if the disease has developed into a more advanced stage. Mesothelioma staging is absolutely necessary in order to create an effective treatment plan for mesothelioma patients. The staging systems include the Butchart Staging System, the Brigham Staging System, and the TNM Staging System.

The TNM staging system was created by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). The TNM staging system is considered the major staging system. T stands for tumor and it refers to the tumor size and how far it has spread to nearby organs; N stands for "spread to lymph nodes," and M stands for Metastasis. This means whether the mesothelioma has spread to other (distant) organs. The TNM Staging System assigns categories and numbers to determine the overall malignant mesothelioma stage.

There are four stages of mesothelioma doctors may assign once TNM staging is complete. The first stage is localized; the other three are considered advanced stages.

In Stage I, the disease has not spread beyond the confines of the mesothelium (membrane covering) of the chest wall; it may also be found on the lung as is the case with pleural mesothelioma (The most common form of the disease), diaphragm and/or the sac surrounding the heart. At this point, mesothelioma is relatively easy to treat by surgical removal. In addition to the diseased tissue, the oncologist will remove some of the surrounding healthy tissues as well.

If the disease is still localized, but found in more than one location, the oncologist may perform a pleurectomy, which is the removal of the outer membrane surrounding the lung. In addition, radiation therapy may be used to relieve symptoms of the disease.

Other treatment options in the early stage may include direct injection of anti-cancer medications following surgical removal of cancerous tissue.

By Stage II, the malignancy has spread beyond the mesothelium of the chest wall, and has moved into the lung tissue and/or diaphram, but not into the lymph nodes.

Stage III mesothelioma is characterized by spread into the fatty part of the mediastinum and/or into the lymph nodes within the thorax. Malignancy may also have spread beyond the diaphragm and into the lining of the abdominal wall, which is known as the peritoneum.

By the time mesothelioma has reached Stage IV, it has spread to organs and tissues far from the respiratory system and/or invades critical structures such as the heart, spine and esophagus.

During the staging process, several tests and procedures may be used including chest x-ray, CAT scan (CT scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and endoscopic ultrasound. Chest x-ray involves an x-ray of all of the bones and organs inside the chest. A CAT scan is a procedure that takes pictures from different angles of the abdomen and chest. Also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography, CAT scan images are created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine and in some cases a dye may be swallowed or injected making tissues and organs easier to see.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI), uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to create detailed pictures of the abdomen or chest. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is also called endosonography. It is a procedure that involves the insertion of an endoscope (a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing) into the body. A probe at the end of the endoscope bounces high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) off internal tissues or organs. This creates echoes, which form a picture of body tissues. The picture of body tissues is called a sonogram. Endoscopic ultrasound may be used to help guide fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of the lymph nodes and lung as well as other areas of the body.

Once the stage, type of mesothelioma, and overall health of the patient have been determined, the doctor will explore the various treatment methods. The treatments and methods used for treating mesothelioma can be divided into two types: traditional mesothelioma treatments and new mesothelioma treatments. Traditional mesothelioma treatments include: surgery (pleurectomy/decortication or P/D, extrapleural pneumonectomy, pleurodesis, peritonectomy), chemotherapy (anti-cancer drugs, which are usually injected into a vein), and radiation therapy or radiotherapy.

Radiation therapy or radiotherapy involves the use of high-energy rays to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells, but it only affects the cancer cells in the treated area only. There are two types of radiotherapy including external radiation and internal radiation therapy. External radiation is generated through a machine and internal radiation therapy is delivered directly to the source of the cancer by placing radioactive materials into the body through small tubes. In many cases a trimodality approach is employed, which means several treatments are combined for the best outcomes, for a better chance at long-term survival, and/or a better quality of life.

New mesothelioma treatments include gene therapy, photodynamic therapy or PDT, immunotherapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy or IMRT, and the development of new chemotherapy agents. In addition to these new (or radical) mesothelioma treatments, there are several other radical treatments available including angiogenesis therapies, antineoplaston therapy, mesothelioma clinical trials, interferon and interleukin therapy, and radiofrequency ablation. A wide variety of complementary and alternative mesothelioma treatments also exist such as herbal products, special diets, homeopathic medicine, acupuncture, therapeutic massage, high dose vitamin C, laetrile (amygdalin, extracted from fruit pits), and Eastern medicines.

Following is a brief description of the other two mesothelioma staging systems. The Butchart staging system was created by M.D., and cardiothoracic surgeon Eric G. Butchart and it is the oldest of all staging systems. It is based on the magnitude of the primary tumor mass. While the Butchart staging system has been around since the 1970’s, it is still currently being used by many specialists for its advantage of simplicity and relevance to prognosis and therapeutic options.

The Brigham staging system also uses four stages. It is based on whether the mesothelioma can be treated or removed by surgery. It is also based on whether or not the body’s lymph nodes are involved.

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