Evaluation of TNM classification of carcinoma of the breast

A survey of the records of almost 2000 cases of carcinoma of the breast in the years 1960-67, since acceptance of the principles of the TNM system of classification, found only 9·2% lacking description. Although the TNM staging was not always allocated by the surgeon making the initial examination, the survey demonstrated that acceptance of the system has resulted in the inclusion of a much more detailed clinical description by the surgeon in the patient's record, from which it was generally possible to assess the TNM staging in the Radiotherapy Department. The more detailed survival rates available in the case of the TNM system, in comparison with the Manchester staging system, is cited as a further recommendation for its wider use. Although detailed localization of the tumour to subsites within the breast appears to have little influence on prognosis, the addition of a supplementary histological classification of node involvement is a valuable adjunct to the assessment of likely survival.