Penile carcinoma staging

AJCC stage

Stage grouping

Stage description*

0
(0is or 0a)

Tis or Ta
N0
M0

Also called carcinoma in situ or CIS. The tumor is only in the top layer of the skin and has not grown any deeper (Tis or Ta).

The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or to distant parts of the body (M0).

I

T1a
N0
M0

The tumor has grown into tissue just below the top layer of skin. It hasn’t grown into nearby blood vessels, lymph vessels, or nerves, and it’s not high grade (grade 3) (T1a).

The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or to distant parts of the body (M0).

IIA

T1b
N0
M0

The tumor has grown into tissue just below the top layer of skin. It has grown into nearby blood vessels, lymph vessels, or nerves, and/or it’s high grade (grade 3) (T1b).

The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or to distant parts of the body (M0).

OR

T2
N0
M0

The cancer has grown into the corpus spongiosum (an internal chamber that runs along the bottom and into the head of the penis).

The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or to distant parts of the body (M0).

IIB

T3
N0
M0

The cancer has grown into the corpus cavernosum (either of 2 internal chambers that run along the top of the shaft of the penis).

The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes (N0) or to distant parts of the body (M0).

IIIA

T1-T3
N1
M0

The tumor has grown into tissue below the top layer of skin and may have grown into the corpus spongiosum and/or the corpus cavernosum (T1 to T3).

The cancer has spread to 1 or 2 nearby inguinal (groin) lymph nodes on the same side of the body (N1). It has not spread to distant parts of the body (M0).

IIIB

T1-T3
N2
M0

The tumor has grown into tissue below the top layer of skin and may have grown into the corpus spongiosum and/or the corpus cavernosum (T1 to T3).

The cancer has spread to 3 or more nearby inguinal (groin) lymph nodes on the same side of the body, or to inguinal lymph nodes on both sides of the body (N2). It has not spread to distant parts of the body (M0).

IV

T4
Any N
M0

The tumor has grown into nearby structures such as the scrotum, prostate, or pubic bone (T4).

The cancer might or might not have spread to nearby lymph nodes (any N). It has not spread to distant parts of the body (M0).

OR

Any T
N3
M0

The tumor might or might not have grown into deeper layers of the penis or nearby structures (any T).

The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes in the pelvis, or it has grown outside of a lymph node and into the surrounding tissue (N3). The cancer has not spread to distant parts of the body (M0).

OR

Any T
Any N
M1

The tumor might or might not have grown into deeper layers of the penis or nearby structures (any T). The cancer might or might not have spread to nearby lymph nodes (any N). The cancer has spread to distant parts of the body (M1).