Definitive diagnosis of ovarian tumors requires surgery to obtain the ovarian tissue for the pathologist. The surgeon will also assess the stage of the tumor i.e. how far the disease has spread. Together with the pathologist's report, this information will help identify the appropriate treatment. Learn what staging and grade mean, as well as how they are calculated. What is Staging? The pathologic stage of breast cancer is a measure of how advanced a patient's tumor is. Breast cancer stage ranges from Stage 0 (pre-invasive disease) to Stage IV (metastatic disease). Primary Tumour (Invasive Carcinoma) (pT) S5.01 The tumour stage and stage grouping must be recorded to the extent possible, based on the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual (7th Table 4. Definition of Pathological Primary Tumor (pT)a. a Reprinted with permission from AJCC: Retinoblastoma. In: Amin MB, Edge SB, Greene FL, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th Ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2017, pp. 819–831. PT2 cancer refers to a particular stage in cancer development, where the tumors have expanded beyond initial confines but remain localized. This classification encompasses various cancers, including those of the breast, prostate, and colon. Pathological staging is determined following prostatectomy and depends on factors such as tumor burden, status of surgical margins, extracapsular disease, and seminal vesicle and pelvic lymph node. Practice question 1 A radical prostatectomy was performed and a cross section of the seminal vesicle wall is shown above. There is involvement by high grade prostatic adenocarcinoma. Which of the following is the correct pT? If you have surgery to remove your prostate, your doctors can also determine the pathological T category (written as pT). The pathological T is likely to be more accurate than the clinical T, as it is done by examining the entire prostate in the lab. Which is the correct pT for a primary breast carcinoma that is 4 mm? To learn the stage of your disease, your doctor may order x-rays, lab tests, and other tests or procedures. Stage refers to the extent of your cancer, such as how large the tumor is and if it has spread. Knowing the stage of your cancer helps your doctor.