What staging system is used for pancreatic cancer?

The correct choice is based on the fact that pancreatic cancer is primarily staged using the TNM staging system, which stands for Tumor, Node, and Metastasis. This system evaluates three critical components:

1. Tumor (T): This refers to the size of the primary tumor and whether it has invaded nearby tissues or organs.

2. Node (N): This assesses whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, which is vital for understanding the extent of disease progression.

3. Metastasis (M): This indicates whether the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, which is crucial for determining the overall stage of the disease.

Using the TNM staging system helps clinicians classify the severity of the cancer, guiding treatment decisions and providing a standardized method for discussing the disease's progression.

In contrast, other options like the AJCC staging system and FIGO staging are utilized for different types of cancers or specific contexts. The AJCC system incorporates the TNM classification but is broader and is used for various malignancies; however, it is not distinct from the TNM system applied to pancreatic cancer directly. The Gleason score is specific to prostate cancer and does not apply to pancreatic tumors. Thus, the