Classification of gliomas and medulloblastomas using the new TNM system for cerebral tumors

Abstract

In 1987 the UICC presented a proposal for TNM classification of brain tumors. This proposal is assessed in a retrospective study on 316 glioma and medulloblastoma patients treated in the Neurosurgical Clinic of the University Münster. It is evident that the T categories do not produce the correct sequence of prognostic differentiation required. The features of tumor spread used for classification are not of equal significance for the various types of tumors. In our opinion it is not possible to adequately describe the greatly varying development characteristics of all brain tumors using one system of classification.

A randomized trial on dose-response in radiation therapy of low-grade cerebral glioma: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) study 22844

“…It is perhaps possible to modify and simplify further definitions of the T parameter. It is important to realize that the T parameter as defined in this study differs slightly from that of the UICC/AJC classification (16). The important deviation proposed (12) for staging…”

“…However, one important parameter proposed in the protocol was to col lect data prospectively on the T parameter of the TNM classification (6,12). In view of the virtual nonexistence of the métastasés (N or M) and the mandatory inclusion of only low-grade tumors, the T parameter was given im portance; it was defined as early as 1983 (Table 1) based on the personal experience (12) of the study chairman and inconclusive results of a study (16) based on the UICC classification (6).…”