Organization

Field Name

ID

Required

KCR

cTNM Descriptor (CTNMDescriptor)

30990

no

NAACCR

TNM Clin Descriptor

980

no


Field Length:  1

Identifies the AJCC clinical stage (prefix/suffix) descriptor of the tumor prior to the start of any therapy. Stage descriptors identify special cases that need separate analysis. The descriptors are adjuncts to and do not change the stage group. This field may not be left blank for cases diagnosed 1/1/2010 forward.

Instructions for Coding

• Record the clinical stage (prefix/suffix) descriptor as documented by the first treating physician or the managing physician in the medical record. 

• If the managing physician has not recorded the descriptor, registrars will code this item based on the best available information, without necessarily requiring additional contact with the physician.

• If the tumor is not staged according to the AJCC manual, leave this data item blank.

• Refer to the current AJCC Cancer Staging Manual for staging rules.

• Previous editions of FORDS included a code 4 for y-classification, and a note that it was not applicable for clinical stage. Code 4 has been removed from the list of valid codes.

  Code

  Label

  Description

0

None

There are no prefix or suffix descriptors that would be used for this case.

1

E – Extranodal, lymphomas only

A lymphoma case involving an extranodal site.

2

S – Spleen, lymphomas only

A lymphoma case involving the spleen.

3

M – Multiple primary tumors in a single site

This is one primary with multiple tumors in the primary site at the time of diagnosis.

5

E&S – Extranodal and spleen, lymphomas only

A lymphoma case with involvement of both an extranodal site and the spleen.

9

Unknown; not stated in patient record

A prefix or suffix would describe this stage, but it is not known which would be correct.