A 57 year old male smoker has a chest x-ray for chronic cough. This shows a 2cm nodule within the right upper zone and CT is advised. CT of the thorax and abdomen demonstrates a 3.5cm mass within the peripheral right upper lobe which invades the chest wall suspicious for bronchogenic carcinoma. There are further nodules within the right upper lobe but no other lung abnormality.
What is the correct T stage for this tumour?
Correct Answer:
T3
T1b | |
T2a | |
T2b | |
T3 | |
T4 |
On size criteria alone this tumour would be T2a. Chest wall invasion and nodules within the same lobe upgrade the tumour to T3.