A 50-year-old woman is diagnosed with a 3 cm grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma. The tumor is ER-positive, PR-positive, and HER2-negative. According to the AJCC 8th edition, what is the prognostic stage group if there is no lymph node involvement and no distant metastasis?
- A Stage IA
- B Stage IIB
- C Stage IIA ✓
- D Stage IIIA
Correct answer: C. Stage IIA
Explanation
In the AJCC 8th edition, the anatomic stage for a T2N0M0 tumor is Stage IIA. However, because the tumor is high grade (G3) and ER/PR positive, the prognostic stage may differ. For a T2N0M0, G3, ER+ tumor, the prognostic stage is Stage IIA. The anatomic stage is the baseline, but the prognostic stage incorporates grade and receptor status.
Reference: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, 8th ed.
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