A patient presents with a 3 cm carcinoma of the true vocal cord with normal cord mobility, extending to the subglottis, with no nodal disease. According to AJCC TNM staging (8th edition), this is classified as:
- A T2 — Stage II ✓
- B T1a — Stage I
- C T3 — Stage III
- D T1b — Stage I
Correct answer: A. T2 — Stage II
Explanation
Glottic carcinoma staging: T1a is limited to one vocal cord with normal mobility; T1b involves both cords with normal mobility; T2 is extension to supraglottis or subglottis and/or impaired cord mobility. This tumor extends to the subglottis with normal mobility, making it T2. T2N0M0 is Stage II. T3 requires cord fixation (immobility) or invasion of pre-epiglottic space/paraglottic space/minor thyroid cartilage erosion.
Reference: Dhingra Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 7th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.