The liver cancer staging is done based on the TNM system of staging.
The TNM system of staging has the following factors:
Tumor (T): This determines how large the cancer has grown or if there is more than one tumor in the liver or if the cancer has reached nearby structures in the liver like the veins.
Lymph node s (N): This factor indicates if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes
Metastasis (M): This factor refers to whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Liver cancer staging is done usually based on the results of the biopsies, physical exam and imaging tests. If surgery is conducted, the pathological state is determined by examining the tissue that was removed during the surgery.
Stage 3
Stage 3 liver cancer is a little more advanced and is further divided into sub stages 3A and 3B that has the following TNM categories:
Stage 3A
T3:
More that one tumor is found and at least one of the tumors found is larger than 5 cm.
N0:
The cancer has not spread to the nearby lymph nodes
M0:
The cancer has not spread to distant sites.
Stage 3B
T4:
At least one tumor that is of any size has grown into the larger vein of liver, the larger vein can either be the portal vein or hepatic vein.
or infiltration of abdominal organs other than Gallbladder.
or peritoneal disease
N0:
The cancer has not spread to the nearby lymph nodes.
M0:
The cancer has not spread to distant sites.
