In the TNM staging system, a breast carcinoma invading the chest wall with fixed ipsilateral axillary nodes and distant bone metastasis is classified as which stage group?

• A T3 N1 M0
• B T4 N1 M1 ✓
• C T2 N2 M1
• D T4 N2 M0

Explanation

Any breast tumour invading the chest wall or skin is T4. Fixed ipsilateral axillary nodes correspond to N1 in the clinical system used at this level of detail. Presence of distant metastases defines M1 regardless of local findings, and M1 automatically places the disease in stage IV, making the T and N descriptors irrelevant to resectability decisions. Options without M1 describe locally advanced but non-metastatic disease.

Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 28th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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