Akaza H
Department of Urology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba.
Nihon Hinyokika Gakkai Zasshi. 1994 Feb;85(2):229-41. doi: 10.5980/jpnjurol1989.85.229.
Stage classification of cancer is a method for objectively describing the status of a tumor. For more than 30 years, the TNM classification system was applied on various kind of malignant neoplasms, whose basic principles were: 1) applicability to all anatomic sites; 2) independence from treatment, and 3) susceptibility to further modification on the basis of information supplied by surgery and histopathological description. Thus far, TNM classification system has made a great contribution to 1) aid the clinician in the planning of treatment; 2) give some indication of prognosis; 3) assist in evaluation of the results of treatment; 4) facilitate the exchange of information between treatment centers; 5) contribute to the continuing investigation of human cancer. However, the publication of the fourth edition of the TNM classification has caused great consternation to urologists because of lack of logic for its complete revision. In this review analyses were done on the changes in the TNM classification of the genitourinary tumors described in the 3rd, 4th and 4th revision. Discussion was also made in relation to the TNM systems and classification systems in the general rules for clinical and pathological studies on urological malignancy of Japanese Urological Association.
癌症分期是一种客观描述肿瘤状态的方法。三十多年来，TNM分期系统应用于各种恶性肿瘤，其基本原则为：1）适用于所有解剖部位；2）与治疗无关；3）可根据手术和组织病理学描述提供的信息进行进一步修订。迄今为止，TNM分期系统在以下方面做出了巨大贡献：1）帮助临床医生制定治疗方案；2）提供一些预后指标；3）协助评估治疗结果；4）促进各治疗中心之间的信息交流；5）推动对人类癌症的持续研究。然而，TNM分期第四版的发布让泌尿外科医生大为惊愕，因为其全面修订缺乏逻辑性。本综述分析了第三版、第四版及第四版修订版中描述的泌尿生殖系统肿瘤TNM分期的变化。还结合日本泌尿外科学会关于泌尿外科恶性肿瘤临床和病理研究的一般规则中的TNM系统及分期系统进行了讨论。
