A 60-year-old woman presents with a 1.5 cm papillary thyroid carcinoma confined to the thyroid (intrathyroidal) with no lymph node metastases. According to the AJCC 8th edition TNM staging, what is her TNM stage given her age?
- A Stage I
- B Stage II ✓
- C Stage III
- D Stage IVA
Correct answer: B. Stage II
Explanation
Under AJCC 8th edition, differentiated thyroid cancer patients aged 55 years or older are staged differently from younger patients. A 60-year-old with T1bN0M0 (intrathyroidal, 1.5 cm, node-negative) is classified as T1bN0M0, which corresponds to Stage II for patients aged 55 or older. Patients under 55 are Stage I regardless of T and N (unless metastatic).
Reference: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, 8th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.